Live Report: Blondmodel deliver an electric debut at the Sound House

If there is one word to characterise Blondmodel's set at the Sound House, it would be camaraderie.

From the first minute I stepped into the room, the immediate impression was that everyone there acted as one giant circle of friends. Yells of greeting, peals of laughter and loud proclamations of excitement echoed through the vaulted ceilings, as the audience slowly began to pack the small space. Maybe they did all know each other, or maybe it was just the atmosphere of the smoky, intimate venue, but the usual scenes of lone figures hovering in the background and disparate groups couldn't be found.

The supporting act Katie Phelan delivered a beautiful set, one acoustic guitarist laying down a barebones backing to allow her soft, thoughtful lyricism to shine through. At first, her music seemed at odds with the increasingly rowdy audience, yet at the end of each song she was greeted with cheers, shouts of "yeah Katie!" and "I loved that one!" filling the space.

"My guitar actually broke during soundcheck," said Phelan apologetically between songs. Nevertheless, the stripped back instrumentation seemed entirely intentional.

Katie Phelan supporting Blondmodel at Sound House. Copyright Grace McNamara /hotpress.com

Then, onto the main act.

Blondmodel seemed to fit the atmosphere perfectly. They laughed amongst each other on stage as they set-up, talking to people in the audience as they prepared for the performance. Even though this was a professional venue — and a sold out concert — the impression was of a house show. Close-knit and comfortable.

From the start, it was clear that the Blondmodel we expected was not the one that we got. Where their recorded tracks are slow, ambient, meandering and soft, their live performance was punchy, fast and full. Heavy electric guitar and heart-pumping bass lines replaced the synth. Where lead singer Sean's voice is usually muted and low, he shouted and sang. It transformed Doom, Gloom & Cheap Perfume, adding pop rock elements into an album that lived undeniably in the lo-fi, bedroom pop universes. And the best part: it all worked perfectly.

Blondmodel at Sound House. Copyright Grace McNamara /hotpress.com

Kicking off the set with 'Scent,' it was plain that this was going to be a good show. A loud, thumping drum solo introduced, before the rest of the band dove in with with fast paced, cutting instrumentals. Sean didn't seem to have an ounce of nerves — despite it being their debut show. Wearing an all white denim fit, smiling and chewing gum, he had the confidence of a seasoned performer.

It was infectious. Onstage, the band was having fun, joking and dancing alongside the audience. Their live set introduced a new grooviness to their tracks, bassist and co-member of Blondmodel Steven laying down lines that got everyone in the room dancing. From more upbeat songs like 'Let Me Keep You Warm (thankful)' to slower tracks the likes of 'Lost Souls, Pretty Ghosts,' the crowd was moving, singing and laughing.

Blondmodel at Sound House. Copyright Grace McNamara /hotpress.com

One of the many highlights of the night was their sixth song, a cover of Nelly Furtado's 'Say it Right.' The whole room screamed  the chorus "oh you don't mean nothing at all to me," the band grinning onstage as they payed homage to the iconic track.

The moment that cemented the performance though, was their eleventh song — when they brought out the saxophone. It introduced an almost jazzy, experimental element to the songs, making the rendition of 'Heroin Honey' all the more catchy.

"It's our last track, you might know it, you might not," said Steven, before launching into a moody, atmospheric version of 'Lost Souls Pretty Ghosts.' Then, they paused for a moment, taking in the screams of an enraptured audience before deciding, "I guess we can do one more."

Blondmodel at Sound House. Copyright Grace McNamara /hotpress.com

They finished off the night with 'Phonecall' – the crowd yelling, "I'm just glad I could spend a little time with you," back to the band onstage.

For a debut show, it couldn't have gone any better. Their instrumentals were tight, interesting and fresh. The audience was engaged and excited. Blondmodel really showed up, their set filling the Sound House with the best kind of noise. If their first show can elicit this kind of response, I can't wait to see what they'll do next time they step onstage.

Check out Doom, Gloom & Cheap Perfume, below.