Mothers Ruin, 7th February 2020
Remember the name Pompadour because you are going to be seeing a lot more of it in 2020 and beyond…
Its fair to say Pompadour have been on our hit list for a fair well. Ever since the launch of their debut EP “Cut to the Chase” we have been looking to feature them. And to see if the live performance can match up to the incredibly polished sounds of “Veronica”, “Point Blank”, “Catch me if you can” and more.
We are please to report it can…
From the opening bars of “Enigma” the Bristol based trio brought their A game. And delivered a stellar ten song set that encompassed the full five songs from the new EP, new material and old favourites such as “Violet” and “Oh Honey”.
The packed crowd were enthralled from start to finish and it was all I could do personally to hold my concentration on taking images and not to join in belting the lyrics back at the band.
If guaranteed music industry success was as simple to measure as a checklist then Pompadour tick every box.
They have a fantastic work ethic, a tightness that some bands will never achieve, a love of what they do mixed with appreciation of the support given back. And a sound that, whilst old skool indie, somehow encompasses so many elements from different genres that their appeal is far and wide reaching.
It’s almost as if someone has kept these guys a secret for the past ten years. Keeping them locked in their musical basement and drilling them with rehearsals before unleashing them on to the world as a finely tuned, well polished and packaged ready for stardom band.
In Tamsin Sayers they have a lead Vocalist / Bassist that is as highly motivated off stage as she is on, but it is when she is on stage the magic really happens. A confidence and poise beyond her years, she captivates the crowd like a indie rock queen ballet dancer. Vocally astute, her tempo is perfect and she possesses just the right amount of rock kick that can take the songs up through the gears as and when needed.
Toby Holbrook is not only an accomplished drummer, but he is a difference maker. Like all great indie and rock bands from the past the drummer is a kingmaker. Too often bands have drummers that are forgettable or just another cog in their overall sound. The best bands however have a showman with stick ability.
And Toby is just that, a showman.
Pompadour have a born performer on their hands here with explosiveness in performance power, coupled with the charisma to make himself and the band stand out.
The final and important piece in Pompadours jigsaw is guitarist Kearney Day. A real driving force in the band Kearney is a critical eye on the bands overall feel and performance. Accomplished and at home on stage he is great to watch perform with a stoic expression that gives the feeling that he knows what he wants from not only his own levels, but those of his band mates.
As the final echos of “Oh, Honey” rang out and people started shuffling their way to the bar or entrance there was a palpable sense of delight in the crowd. Both with the evenings performance, but also with the knowledge they may have just seen Bristol’s nationwide reputation for producing superb talent continue.
Full Set List
- Enigma
- Blame Your Predecessors
- Slush Puppy
- Violet
- Veronica
- Untitled new song
- Do You Dare Me
- Point Blank
- Catch Me If You Can
- Oh, Honey!