Gaz Coombes at Electric Ballroom

Since first storming onto the scene with Britpop icons Supergrass, Gaz Coombes has in recent years fashioned a successful solo career that incorporates elements of electronica, Americana, folk and indie. Touring his fine fourth solo Turn the Car Around, Coombes treated a full house at Electric Ballroom in Camden to a virtuoso performance with tracks from his latest record, as well as Matador and The World’s Strongest Man.

Support act Lonelady delivered a lively set that showed why she is regarded so highly, warming the crowd up in fine fashion with a mixture of post-punk, dance and indie. Coombes, as ever, was in fine voice from the opener Overnight Trains, rattling through his solo back catalogue, looking resplendent in a Panama hat and sparkly jacket. Don’t Say It’s Over – one of the standouts from the most recent record – proved a treat live.

It was a high-energy concert, the last leg of his latest tour. Coombes was more interactive than perhaps at Supergrass gigs, recounting many of the stories that inspired the tracks, showing how personal and important they are to him and adding an extra connection for the audience.

There was a fine blend of songs, with the entirety of Turn The Car Around interspersed with five tracks from Matador and three of his superb World’s Strongest Man, which could perhaps have featured more prominently. However, this is a slight blight on what was an exceptional set, showing an artist at the top of their game. Deep Pockets and Walk the Walk were absolute highlights, amidst an electrifying set.

The artist and his band were able to deftly manoeuvre between the different styles incorporated across his eclectic albums with the more psychedelic elements, merging to acoustic seamlessly, with Coombes on his own for several tracks, a perfect vessel for his outstanding vocals.

The musician had the crowd in the palm of his hand as he showed his artistic growth and treated them to a fine Saturday night in Camden. He showed off his prowess as a guitarist throughout, especially on Feel Loop (Lizard Dream) and Long Live the Strange, which had one of the best responses of the evening and is another stellar track from his latest album. This was the perfect advert for Coombes’s solo material and as a live artist, building on his fine work with Supergrass on the live circuit.

Christopher Connor
Photos: Virginie Viche

For further information and future events visit Gaz Coombes’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Long Live the Strange here: