Live Review: Thyla - The Louisiana, Bristol 18/10/2019

A chattery crowd made their way excitedly up the stairs to the stage from the poster filled pub that is the Louisiana (posters of acts who performed here include Amy Winehouse, Florence and the Machine, Coldplay, Muse, and George Ezra). Immediately they were silenced by the breathy, fluttery tones of singer Duthie’s voice. Thyla have arrived.

The fact that Duthie met drummer, Danny Southwell, on their first day at school is clear in the united and completely synchronised nature of the band’s movements, subdued and moody during their opening song, and then suddenly wild and rocky and head-banging as ‘Blame’ kicks in. The restrictions one might expect from a stage as small as the Louisiana’s become evidently irrelevant.

Duthie explains that ‘Blame’ was written because of “Need for a live energy we didn’t have before”, boasting that the song is “170 BPM and wicked to play onstage.” There’s no doubt that this song brought furious energy and excitement - not only to the stage, but in the crowd who turned from a sweet attentive audience to an energised mob.

Followed by ‘Ferris Wheel’, the vocals gained personality. The last syllables of sentences characterised by an endearing squeakiness, reminiscent of ‘Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry. A stand out song of the evening was ‘Let It Sail’ which the band proudly announced was “Brand spanking new!” The earthy bass rumbled through the floor and everyone’s ribcages as the song began; twanging dream-pop guitar riffs joining in, but remaining understated as the driving drum and bass dominated. The heaviness of it, pierced by Duthie’s increasingly sassy voice, wide eyes and cheeky expression. The constant and simple drum beat made the crowd desperate for the release of the steady repetition, both crowd and the band leaning forward into each other waiting for the drop.

Despite the lead singer’s exclamation that “It’s getting hot in these fake leather pants”, everyone loved the sweaty, joyful atmosphere created, with plenty of interaction and funny comments that characterise gigs at intimate venues and make them all the more special. Duthie recognised the “Pedal nerds in the crowd” who shouted out the names of the gadgets that the psychedelic distorted sounds in-between songs were coming from. The crowd then instigated a genuinely unplanned encore, which ended in Duthie dancing more than singing amongst the disbelieving audience who flung their arms in the air and jumped along with her; despite the huge platform soles of her buffalo boots, she was still almost invisible in the crowd.

But the power of her voice was all that was needed.

Photography and words by Alice Sutton