Speedy Ortiz

After receiving tickets to see Speedy Ortiz as a present, I realised that I wasn’t actually that familiar with any of their music, and started listening to their debut album, The Death Of Speedy Ortiz. I got pretty excited about seeing them live after just my first listen, as their indie rock sound is alternative and fresh.
As well great vocals from Sadie, every single musician is incredibly talented on their instrument, and seeing them live really accentuated this talent. The harmonies between the vocals of the musicians intertwine and run over each other wonderfully, adding great layers to the performances. They opened the show with Bigger Party, their newest EP, and had everyone singing along straight away. They were great at interacting with the audience, and Darl had his own microphone as well as the vocalists, to call out to us in the crowd to encourage us to join in.
The show lasted about 90 minutes, and although it would’ve been great if it was longer, they committed 110% to every song, dancing around the stage, and producing incredible music. The whole band work really well together, sensing when another member is improvising, and transitioning into and between different sections of songs fluidly.

Despite Massachusetts indie rock quartet Speedy Ortiz only appeared on the circuit in 2011, they have been receiving great reactions from both the fans and the critics. Rather than slowly dripping out the music, they have already released two albums so the setlists are beginning to fill up nicely.

Tonight they play London and it is all about showing the UK fans about what they are made of. They burst onto stage and through the moody lights come twangy guitar introducing bars and thumping a drum beat which keeps the whole show pacy. Running through 'American Horror' 'Bigger Party' and 'Everything's Bigger' encapsulates Speedy Ortiz's intent as they are clearly about angsty instrumentals and memorable choral hooks that are sung back by the more devoted fans. They run through ten tracks of indie rock goodness before ending on the tongue in cheek 'Taylor Swift'. I predict big things are to come.