Live Review: Fickle Friends @ The Waterfront Studio, Norwich

Words originally for Outline Magazine

All photos and more in high resolution here.

Fickle Friends live at Norwich Waterfront Studio

The last time I saw Brighton-based disco quintet Fickle Friends perform was in 2014, opening the main stage at a festival in Oxfordshire. Two years and a string of catchy releases later, they pitched up at the Waterfront Studio to spread some tropical cheer with their 80s inspired tunes.

Odder Seas live at Norwich Waterfront Studio

Local lads Odder Seas are on first. Their cool stage presence fits perfectly with the evening’s murky vibe, their sound boasting disjointed guitar lines reminiscent of Two Door Cinema Club. Frontman (what a name) Oli de St Croix’s deep vocals seem a little out of place to start with, but on the chorus of Limbo everything aligns to create Cribs-like indie greatness. All good so far.

Clean Cut Kid live at Norwich Waterfront Studio

Clean Cut Kid are main support. A jolly Scouse four-piece who previously opened for Circa Waves downstairs, their signature enthusiasm seems lacking this evening but the songs speak for themselves; Runaway sounds punkier than on record but just as uplifting and new tracks Stay and Brother Of Mine prove that this primarily mainstream pop group have a real, concealed substance to them. The retro Pick Me Up and debut single Vitamin C close a half hour of fun with pounding beats and ear-worming hooks.

When the lights dim, Fickle Friends get straight down to business. Say No More showcases everything this act has to offer – there’s a steamy bassline, floaty vocals and more synths than you’ve had hot dinners. There’s even a twangly guitar solo in there for good measure.

A quick reminisce about the group’s last visit to Norwich gets the audience laughing – at Radio 1’s Big Weekend, “I fainted during Muse! I wasn’t even drunk, I just had enough”, frontwoman Natti Shiner recalls. Technical difficulties plague the set, first on Chris Hall’s guitars then Sam Morris’ kick drum, but the five-piece persevere skilfully. And through the vibrant light show and Shiner’s endearing enthusiasm, the audience couldn’t care less anyway.

New songs like Call and Freak sound fairly alike, but fresh and original nonetheless – certainly unlike anything any other pop acts are producing nowadays. My preference falls on the older tracks like Play and Swim which earned this energetic collective so much hype two years ago, and have matured exceptionally over time to create beautiful pop masterpieces. With luck, the same will happen to the newer stuff too.

At first glance, it wouldn’t be unforgivable to mistake Fickle Friends as being just another wannabe pop group. But tonight cements in my mind for sure that with an authentically fun live show and solid tunes to back them up, this group have a truly bright future ahead of them. 

Fickle Friends' Velvet EP is out now. 

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