Razorlight live review by Ryan Beardsley
I recall Leeds Festival in 2007 and Razorlight headlining the main stage. In truth I can’t remember a single thing about their set, the reason it sticks in my memory is because less than 5 years later, I was stood in the backroom of the Sheffield Leadmill watching Johnny Borrell play to literally 9 people (including me) in what was arguably the biggest fall from grace of those heady indie days.
But time has done it’s thing and like many once beloved acts, Razorlight are joining the anniversary performance racket, as it’s fully 20 years since 2004’s Up All Night and we the people still clearly can’t get enough of those sweet, sweet member berries.
Up first on support are the most underrated band of their generation™ ; Mystery Jets in a short and snappy set that showcases why they are still so beloved. It’s a new lineup for the band for the most part, but Blaine Harrison’s fractured, delicate vocals still ring true. We even get treated to a new track which whets the appetite for a long overdue new record, soon please.
The crowd are in a mild frenzy as the big screen clock ticks down to zero and the original Razorlight lineup stroll on to the Brixton Academy stage, in a way it’s pretty remarkable they are here two decades later, considering the fall outs, walk outs and the different iterations of the lineup which more than once had Borrell standing alone as a founding member.
But what about the performance itself, well it’s pretty damn good, the first half especially. There’s an energy in the band that hasn’t been seen for a long time and it’s clear that they’re delighted to be back on the big stage in what must be their first sell out show in a long old time and they act accordingly.
Vice, Rip It Up and Stumble and Fall have stood the test of time and reflect sheer indie disco glee for the veterans of the 00s, and of course Golden Touch is blasted out with full reverence by the 3000 in attendance. No thrills, no fancy production, sharp musicians and some great choruses, it shows live.
Borrell himself doesn’t look like he’s in his mid forties, and for a while I think maybe he’s grown up after all these years, finally realising his band was always just a bit of fun for people and not the second coming of Queen. But then out of nowhere he pisses away all the good will that had been earned back with a lamentable diatribe about how his band is ‘real music’ and thumbs his nose at his peers. Embarrassing at 44 years old quite frankly.
After they play the first record in full we get some treats from their self titled sophomore record which is in most ways a better album and it shows on In The Morning and Before I Fall To Pieces. We also get a blast of the new stuff, latest single Zombie Love from Planet Nowhere is wheeled out and it’s fine, but there’s no appetite for new Razorlight songs in 2024, shut up and play the hits as a great man once said, and to be fair they do for the most part.
The night ends with the suitably cringetastic America. God what were they thinking? But anyway, on the whole a fun night and it’s good to see the band back together and doing what they do best, hopefully they can take the cue from their fans and just enjoy it this time.
You can find tickets for remaining dates here.
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