Pip Blom
The band seem very happy and confident on stage, relaxed in knowing they are producing the goods. I hope they return to their home from home soon.
In the week leading up to the release of their third album ‘Bobbie’ Pip Blom return to Norwich at the Arts Centre to showcase some new songs and remind us of their superb, growing back catalogue.
The band have an affinity with this fine city having played here on a number of occasions, including one of their very first gigs on these shores and it’s great to see the venue full of excitement for their return.
The now three piece opened up with ‘Tiger’ a track taken from the aforementioned new album. With synths, loops and a driven bass line it’s an instant home run of a song. It’s one of the finest indie-pop songs in decades and takes off when performed live.
"Kiss Me By The Candlelight’ is another early highlight of the set, more synths and and catchy chords fill the room as heads nod and bodies sway in approval. Tender Blom takes on the vocal duties live (the recorded version is sang by Personal Trainer’s Willem Smit) and his duet with sister Pip works perfectly, it’s another sure fire indie hit.
We get treated to some older material too, the grunge heavy goodness of ‘School’ really gets the guitar heads going whilst ‘Keep It Together’ is a Brit-pop/Rock fans dream come true.
‘Come Home’ delights those of us in the crowd who have been fans of the band from their infancy and it works really well with their newer material. Slower and darker in parts it really brings out the strength in the band’s musicianship. New single ‘Get Back’ also works a treat with its catchy chorus and dance refrain.
The fifty minute set ends with a run of three songs all taken from ‘Bobbie’ with the crowd listening intently and really getting into the sounds they are being hit with. ‘I Can Be Your Man’ and ‘Where’d You Get My Number’ are true signs of the growth and belief Pip Blom have in their new material.
The band seem very happy and confident on stage, relaxed in knowing they are producing the goods. I hope they return to their home from home soon.
Opening the evening was the quite wonderful ‘Vanity Fairy’ a native of Norwich who is now based in London, her songs are a wave of disco beats looped under vocals that were born out of 70s soul.
Recently signed to the brilliant Moshi Moshi Records and on a quest for international stardom, songs such as ‘He Can Be Your Lady’ and ‘Top Of The Pops’ certainly fit that bill. With humour and stage presence to match we’ve got a new superstar on the horizon.
