New York – Hotly tipped U.K. indie band Coasts played a sold-out show on the Lower East Side at Bowery Ballroom on April 30; a key stop on their first headlining U.S. tour. The Bristol-based quintet, comprised of Chris Caines, James Gamage, David Goulbourn, Ben Street and Liam Willford, are touring in support of the recently released (in North and South America) EP Coasts as well as current European and Australian release Modern Love EP, on Capitol Records.
Having previously played the Lower East Side venue supporting alternative rockers Bad Suns in February, lead singer Chris Caines admitted he “never thought they would be back so soon,” but it’s evident the band has developed quite a following already, albeit teeming with teenage girls charmed by the almost boy-band appeal of the tousled hair and edgy exterior of the English group over a backdrop of tropical guitars and radio-friendly indie pop anthems. Playing from a slew of favourites amassed over the band’s almost four years together, it’s admirable that their setlist almost already reads like a greatest hits record spanning across the three EPs Coasts have released, from “Your Soul” and “A Rush Of Blood” to most recently released single “Modern Love,” whose stadium-ready synths and hooks feel made for such a live setting.
Well-received and at ease, Coasts’ set was dotted with poignant moments as well, from a compelling performance of “Golden City,” a homage to the band’s U.K. roots, to the endearing admittance of Caines to the crowd that the gig was “personally one of the best shows of [his] life.” It’s clear Coasts have found a winning formula, quickly becoming comfortable playing to larger and larger audiences and curating their songs and sound to such an atmosphere. The poise demonstrated at Bowery Ballroom has already found them a measure of success towards a bright future as a recognizable name in the mainstream indie circuit, where only a year and a half ago they were playing tiny venues in their native England.
Continuing a tried-and-true approach, the band predictably played a two-song encore ending with their first and most well known single, “Oceans,” highly anticipated by audience members chanting the track title as the band made their initial exit. Delivering a solid performance, Coasts are certain only to expand their international fanbase and garner a further following with their dedicated touring and earnest deliverance.
Support for Coasts came from the fresh-faced meets old soul of Zella Day, who at only 20-years-old has already made a name for herself with her unique blend of Americana country twang and synthetic beats. With a set that featured tracks off her self-titled EP released in last fall, as well as selections from upcoming debut LP Kicker, Day successfully combined dancier singles like “Sweet Ophelia” alongside haunting and soulful ballads such as “Compass” and “Jameson.” Both engaging and dynamic with her cultivated Californian style and cheeky enthusiasm, Day lent this distinctive energy to her own spin on Zombies’ track “Time of the Season,” as well as encouraging active audience participation with a foray into the crowd and dedicating songs to various people in a charming tongue and cheek manner. (Ed., click HERE for Best New Bands’ review of Day’s set at LA’s Roxy last fall.)
With a clear focus on the promotion of Kicker, out June 2 on Hollywood Records, Day delivered tracks she promised audience members they’d “never heard before” such as the resounding “Ace of Hearts” and chose to end her set not with omnipresent single “Hypnotic” but with the freshly premiered on Billboard track “High,” which combines Day’s “small town American love” with a smoldering Lana Del Rey-esque edge that paints her as a new voice on the scene who seems to be going from strength to strength.
Catch Coasts as they tour well into the summer festival season in the U.K. and Europe, and watch Zella Day perform at select North American dates, including Firefly and Lollapalooza festivals.
Ruby Hoffman
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