For as many bands who claim to have bypassed the traditional promo route, few have actually built up a decent fanbase through the internet. Amplifico are an exception. The band can really play to their strengths without any trace of embarrassment or self-consciousness. The air is heavy with anticipation and good though support band Aberfeldy are tonight, they really don’t stand a chance.
Lead vocalist Donna is very fresh and nervy-sounding. She’s backed up by a very tight band on a full-sounding variety of instruments, from a brass section, to jangling lead guitar. It’s lovely to hear a young girl with such confidence in her voice. At the back of everything is the drummer. He gives the band a fine base from which to play off. Some songs have a lovely, lilting, bluesy quality to them. The bluesy quality which violinists are normally associated with. This also seems like a good point at which to bring up another strong arrow in Amplifico’s quiver – the world-weariness to their sound. There’s a strong flavour of Lloyd Cole in the lyrics. Like that ‘80s troubadour, Amplifico make it quiet clear how they feel about life.
Their one fault is they walk a fine line between subtlety and bombast. Both are useful in small doses, but sometimes, a little more grey area is required. The band’s last song is very apt: ‘The Comedy Stops Here’. It allows the audience to both think and stamp their feet at the same time. It is a perfect full stop to the show tonight.
//Jonathan Muirhead