Live Review: Griff - O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, London 27/10/2021
Griff skipped several steps to fill Shepherds Bush Empire on her first headline tour. Thankfully after an EP called ‘One Foot In Front Of The Other’, every toe was in the right place.
Opening act HYTTS made an outstanding impression to those who braved the early queue. Glaswegian duo Adam and Sam brought Chvrches-style vibes with their 80s sound, and turned Shania Twain’s ‘You’re Still The One’ into a showstopper.
DYLAN also utilised a cover - part of ‘Paradise City’ by Guns N’ Roses - in a frenetic rock set that included her own tracks ‘You’re Not Harry Styles’ and ‘Overdrive’. The unreleased ‘He’s No Romeo’ had an Anne-Marie style swagger, more than a strong hint at DYLAN’s future potential.
But the room is full once Griff steps on stage with the title track of her June EP. Every piece of that seven-song collection features in the set, which sees her singing, as well as picking up an acoustic guitar for ‘Walk’, and putting in a low-key piano performance for ‘Earl Grey Tea’.
Near the start of the set, Griff stated “It’s so high!”, indicating the three tiers to the historic building. It was never meant to be so big – some ticketholders were booked for Omeara in March 2020, others for Heaven. Shepherds Bush Empire is ginormous in comparison to those, but it felt like a fitting home. For an artist without a full-length project to her name, it’s weird the demand was there to make this bigger still.
Griff and her backing musicians on keys and drums turned their hand to big dance moments like ‘1,000,000 X Better’, and also calmer moments, with ‘Good Stuff’ attracting an audience-driven light show.
For ‘Heart Of Gold’, Griff disappeared off stage, only to re-emerge in silhouette, and then in a constructed circle. It an illusion for stadium stars, staging built for big rooms. Was there a debt to Lorde here? Maybe. Either way, it made sense as the EP track segued into a much-loved reprise of the anthemic ‘Royals’. It was perhaps the most pivotal moment in the 55-minute show.
For an act who’s played the country’s biggest events, it still feels like an impressive debut. She introduced ‘One Night’ by saying “Dance with me”, before throwing shapes alongside the crowd, just weeks after playing it on ‘Strictly’.
Meanwhile finale ‘Black Hole’ – a breakthrough moment from the BRITs – started with a beautiful acoustic intro. Then it kicked into the full heights that the bittersweet track deserves.
There are things to be tinkered with, but it’s an exciting start and a remarkable story. Every track was already well known, and adored by fans, so there’s no hinting at what’s next for Griff, but expectations are three tiers high.
Post-show, the PA blasts ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’, cutting the music so the departing crowd can sing loudly. It’s possible, many years from now, DJs will cut the music so people can sing Griff.
Words by Samuel Draper