Flawes have recorded a live stream performance, to celebrate their latest release, Reverie. The show was streamed from Lafayette in London to fans on Youtube, featuring songs from their new EP and debut album Highlights from January of last year.
If you’re a seasoned concert-goer, you will know that the anticipation before the artists come on stage is one of the most exciting parts of the night, to hear what playlist the artists have selected to play beforehand. This is what I like about Flawes’ live stream, as they have incorporated this live element into their stream.
The show starts up with their opening track from their EP, ‘Holding Out for the Win.’ I have to admit that I love hearing the lead singer JC, and his clear vocals on this track, rather than the more processed studio version. It allows for his raw vocals to be showcased more, enabling you to appreciate his talents for the rest of the show. Of course, this is something we are all in awe of. It is interesting how the band transfer and remake mostly electronic songs sound more organic. The guitar is more prominent in the live version of ‘When We Were Young,’ rather than having a synthesizer playing the melody. The drums also sound more organic on the live performance, contrasting with the digitally produced kick sound as heard in the studio version
The performance of ‘Still Not Ready’ was surprising, when they started to play pre-recorded tapes from their fans, who were either greeting the band or thanking them. It is always special when a band has such a close connection with their audience, including their fans from their own home. You always feel more welcome at a live stream when the band ask the fans to turn the volume up, dance, and have a fantastic time. This is exactly what a show should be about, being together and having fun. This is clearly something that Flawes is proficient at, through a live stream event on Youtube.
The stripped-back version of ’Highlights’ is also a prominent part of the show, as it is a stark contrast to the other high energy songs in the setlist. When you watch back live-streamed shows on Youtube, you can also follow the comments section, and the majority fo the fans seem to agree that this song is one of the most stunning parts of the show. The piano and guitar create an intimate and raw setting, in which the song and emotions can settle. After the chorus, it seamlessly blends into ‘Ghost Town.’ Since both songs have a similar vibe, this makes the mashup transition almost unnoticeable, if you aren’t familiar with each individual song.
I think that the live version of ‘Higher Than Before‘ maybe even better than the studio version. You can very obviously hear the instruments more clearly than you can in the recorded track. Whilst Freddie on guitar has been showing off his skills throughout the whole show, I believe this song makes the main riffs stand out even more. The introduction of Mali-Kao was brilliant, introducing a new dynamic to the performance.
Flawes close of the show with ’What’s a Boy to Do,’ a song with a catchy chorus that makes everyone stand up to dance. The nature of the track allows anyone to get involved at home, having a dance and a laugh. For this reason, I cannot wait to hear this song live in-person, seeing the crowd go crazy for this chorus!
I believe an important part of any performance is the actual artists, and that people playing are enjoying what they’re doing. You can see that the members of Flawes truly do enjoy playing. However, I do want to give their drummer Huss a bit of extra credit, due to his dedicated playing. I might not know much about drums, but I can see when someone plays them with passion, intention and loves what they’re doing. Huss does exactly that.
The best part of the performance is definitely their song ‘Still Not Ready’ when they involved the fans. Like I previously mentioned, it’s such a special moment when you can be more than a fan of the band, feeling like you’re something more, a member of a club or wider community. I think it just goes to show how much Flawes love to perform and enjoy what they’re doing. As a listener, hearing the band laugh and engage with each other illustrates the artists being their authentic selves.
Setlist:
