Live Review: Yard Act - Troxy, London 05/05/2023
Yard Act overload Troxy with a ridiculously rowdy set.
As a first-time DLR rider in London, getting to Troxy felt like an adventure in itself, but the anticipation of seeing Yard Act perform live made the journey well worth it. Troxy in itself is certainly an exciting venue, especially when watching an up-and-coming band such as Yard Act, and has a sense of spaciousness about it that is much appreciated when endeavouring to get a drink. More importantly
With the set fully decked out with a display of trench coats, Yard Act took to the stage. After welcoming and conversing with the crowd (a running theme of the night) Frontman, James Smith, got the crowd to fill the gaps where the word ‘rich’ should be in the opener: ‘Rich’ (suprise surprise). This playful start gave way to the powerful drums and driving bass of the song. Thankfully Smith didn’t make the crowd chant rich for the entirety and began his signature ranted vocals. His charisma is what drives Yard Act, his inherent likeableness stops the highly political lyrics from appearing to preachy and gives them a needed sense of fun. Although the frontman can only shine with good instrumentalists at his back, and the rest of the band certainly didn’t miss a beat. The crowd, particularly at the front, was fully into Yard Acts' schtick form the start, and featured huge mosh pits worthy of the energy the band were bringing. The audience featured a wide range of ages, with refreshingly few phones being seen even during the sets biggest moments.
Smith really does have an incredible stage presence, something that is often a make or break or up and coming Indie bands performing live in front of big crowds for the first time. He was constantly bantering with the crowd, making jokes about the King's coronation and keeping everyone on their toes. Yard Act really knew how to keep the momentum going throughout the night, playing several deep cuts from their recent album, as well as debuting some new music. Highlights for me included the intense ‘Tall Poppies’, as well as ‘Pour Another’, which embraces hedonism even in dark times. After Smith assures us that life is worth living and that we were a better crowd than the previous night in London (obviously), it was time for their biggest hit and album title track ‘The Overload.’ This one of course really got the crowd going, with everyone singing and chanting along in unison. While this was the only song that 100% of the crowd was familiar with, I have no doubt that the entire performance would result in those just getting into the band becoming loyal fans.
The gig came to an end with the band coming back on stage for an encore, finishing on a more sombre note with "100% Endurance" and "The Trapper's Pelts." The setlist was well crafted to keep the crowd entertained and engaged throughout the gig, of course helped by an incredible performance from James Smith. Overall, Yard Act delivered a suitably rowdy and high octane show at Troxy, making it an unforgettable night for everyone who attended. If you get a chance to see Yard Act live, don't hesitate - you won't be disappointed!
Words by Josh Wilkey
Photography by Abigail Shii
