Newport Music Hall welcomed rising stars The Bravery Friday evening. They played a fantastic set to the general appeal of the crowd.
But it was the opening band that caught everyone’s eyes.
The UK-based Brit-pop group the Switches turned up the heat in Newport to the cries of the audience. The five-member ensemble created to form a bright, quipping sound that caught the attention of listeners and caused Newport’s audiences to stand up and cheer.
The group is self-described as “English gentlemen performing rock music,” said bassist Thom Kirkpatrick. The group appeals to the college crowd, and their good looks certainly seemed to appeal to the young ladies.
While headlining the Bravery put on quite a show. Their electronic dance/rock tunes have built them a powerful base in the alternative music world. This is their second time in Columbus, having headlined in 2005 CD 101 Day at the Lifestyle Communities Pavilion. Their music is fun and danceable, and lead singer Sam Endicott has a wonderful stage presence.
But the Switches clearly took the cake with their opening set. Lead singer/guitarist Matty Bishop gave Endicott a run for his money, and the fact that he can belt it out while also rocking the guitar certainly said a lot for his talent.
The Switches’ entire presence certainly spoke for their passion. It was clear that the band’s performance was a true experience for them. The band seemed to enjoy every song they played and were ecstatic about the crowd’s response. As their fame rises, the Switches would certainly do well to hold on to that passion.
The Switches new album “Lay Down the Law,” featuring the single “Drama Queen” hits stores in March. The Bravery’s new album “The Moon,” which is the second album in a sequence of The Sun and the Moon will be released March 18th.
Alexandra Coleman can be reached at [email protected].
