Live Review

Scala was packed out to the brim at Bell X1s sellout date at Londons Scala, perhaps hinting that this will be their year to make and break the United Kingdom for real. They clearly have a strong and enthusiastic following as your reviewer for the evening jostles to the front for a good place to take some photos, being asked all the time about how long will I be there and when will I move on...! Opressed!

30 minutes late onto the stage, Bell X1 enter to a raucous greeting from the brimming venue before opening the set with Heart Is Wired, taken from their recent album. Their new album Blue Lights On The Runway saw a release back at the start of March, which was the fourth from the band that formed way back in 1999. It comes four years after their last album Flock.

Have we found the source of that flatulence? frontman Paul Noonan asks, before turning behind him with a Rory, was that you?, as the audience instantly warm to him. Noonan makes jokes about their drive to London from Paris and having too much luggage in the guise of Dominics (drums) vanity case being a ton overweight. Next up was Bad Skin Day from album Flock. Noonan seemed a bit uncomfortable about the stage at first, but become more confidence (and certainly more sexy) as the set progressed.

Other tracks played out included Eve, The Apple Of My Eye, Next To You, Flame and The Great Defector, all part of Bell X1s repertoire and tugging on the heartstrings of everyone in Scala that night.

The encore concluded the night with The Ribs Of A Broken Umbrella, Breastfed and Ill See Your Heart and I'll Raise You Mine, much to the delight of the audience a mix of couples and a high ratio of women.

Bell X1 will continue their tour throughout the UK and Europe ahead of the international festival seasons, which will include appearances at Kents Hop Farm Festival, Benicassim in Spain, and Irelands Electric Picnic.