Lightspeed Champion / Semifinalists

Thank god for Devonte Hynes at last commercial new UK music isn't boring and bland and copying Franz Ferdinand and co! Tonight I watch Dev, who used to have a previous life in noise merchants Test Icicles, in both the bands playing Exeter's Cavern Club and as well as being extremely talented as a musician, he's helping the music scene develop sonically at last. (Cynics might say he's jumping the folk band wagon. - Ed)

The night gets off to a flyer as Dev takes to the stage to take up bass duties for support group Semifinalists. Adriana Alba, Chris Steele-Nicholson, and Ferry Gouw make up this group I've never heard before, but they are the perfect group to get things started.

Bouncy Dev bass lines, tight drums from Adriana and this is weirdly harmonic Flaming Lips art school kind of pop punk with Chris Steele-Nicholson providing Placebo style vocals with Thrills harmonies and they certainly get the crowd interested. Ferry Gouw's kooky backing vocals and crazy vogues make the performance and his soaring riffs, in a short set gets everyone in the mood for the main act.

'Falling off the Lavender Bridge' is already a massive hit with myself and it will take a lot to beat this as a debut album and surely it's already a strong contender for album of the year. So I have been relishing the chance to see Lightspeed Champion recreate the album live and he doesn't fail to deliver.

Taking to the very small stage to music from Star Wars is Lightspeed Champion himself, with the same trio of musicians as earlier and the addition of a violinist (possibly Mike Siddell from Hope Of The States?). Dev wears his trademark specs and big furry hat. He's feeling none too well after eating service station food, if this is him off form, I'd love to hear him play acoustic guitar when he's well, as he's phenomenal tonight.

The Cavern's cramped room and lighting compliment his sound and he soon races through a set mostly made up of six songs from Lavender. A cover, an old song and a new song, "Kill Me" make up the rest of the set. His folk country delivery is sublime, very musical, 'Tell Me What It's Worth' has him playing harmonica too. Building slowly the tracks gain musicians, first a violin and then Semifinalist members who all work together on the melodies and stripped down sound, building to another of his hits, and he says he uses that term loosely, 'Tell Me What It's Worth'.

Lightspeed deserves to be huge, his lyric writing is honest, and his music uplifting and cheery, one could make comparisons to the Arctic Monkeys lyrically - and like them no doubt he's bound to win accolades and everyone will say it's just hype. But part of me hopes that he keeps underground (like this venue) - as this is an intimate experience that I wish to visit again. The highly tuned lo-fidelity style might not work in a grandiose setting, he has so many heartfelt tunes, a great voice and makes music that moves you, 'Galaxy of the Lost' is a sublime record. Although I very much expect Dev could add orchestras or choirs to his music as easily as he has fitted together musicians to the ever evolving band of Lightspeed Champion live. 'Midnight Surprise' is such an amazing song, however it's musically structured, 'Mr Fisk' brings a perfect set to an end and a beautiful evening of modern UK folk music I guess.

There's only one downside - Dev's confession that "I watched Revenge of the Sith again and I think it's the best Star Wars movie!" Oh well Dev, you can't be right all the time. We all know Empire is the best and we told you that too. But don't let Dev's poor choice in Star Wars movies put you off. If you get a chance then buy the album and see him live, its time well spent in my opinion, and yes he's hyped but that's because he's talented in a music scene that's full of clones.

FUTURE GIGS

sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.