Easy Life played their opening night at the O2 Academy Brixton last month. Managing Editor Anna Fox and music writer Alex Standish ventured into the audience for a night of crowd surfing and moshing.
Rating: 4.5/5
Who are easy life?
Easy Life (stylised as easy life) are a Leicester based alternative indie/R&B group that have crafted a selection of melodic bangers that are jam-packed with catchy hooks. Lead singer Murray Matavers (vocals, synth, trumpet and keys) established the band in 2017, by roping in his musical friends Oliver Cassidy (drums and percussion), Sam Hewitt (bass, backing vocals and sax), Lewis Berry (guitar) and Jordan Birtles (percussion, backing vocals and keys). Signing with Island Records in 2018, the boys have reaped success ever since, with their third mixtape, Junk Food, hitting number 7 on the UK Albums Chart a day after its release.
The venue:
The O2 Academy Brixton stands loud and proud on Stockwell road. The internationally renowned, Grade II listed and award-winning music venue welcomed eager fans, with security staff beckoning revellers through the elegant art deco doors into the iconic arena. The sloped floors provide unobstructed views throughout the entirety of the performance and the addition of the vast curved ceiling accentuate the booming sound system providing an intimate yet immersive experience.
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The Support:
Entering the stage with great enthusiasm, Trinidad and Tobago-born rapper, producer and songwriter Berwyn kicked off the evening with his most popular tracks “VINYL” and “ANSWERS”. The East London based rapper warmed up the audience with a taste of his latest album TAPE 2/FOMALHAUT. During their 30 minute performance, Berwyn leapt and sprung across the stage, spitting out a series of high-energy flows, with the almost insatiable energy, akin to a kid in a sweet shop. However, despite revving up the audience, I was confused and deflated by Berwyn’s performance as the booming sound system left his set resembling a commentator narrating the Grand National.
The opening song:
The stuffed auditorium enthusiastically sang along to the calming background music (RedBone by Childish Gambino) in anticipation of the arrival of easy life on set. At around 9 pm, the boys bounded onto the stage, commencing their whopping 25 song setlist with their debut single “Pockets”.
Passionate fans exercised their vocal cords, screeching “Pockets” word for word and with such dedication, that the boys were genuinely astounded by the audience’s reciprocation and rendition.
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Notable songs:
Fuelled by a fusion of pre-set beverages, the boys bypassed the wishes of security staff and launched themselves into the audience for a cheeky crowd surf at various points throughout their performance. “Skeletons” roused particular affection from the crowd, especially when Matavers split the crowd, ensuing a vigorous and lively mosh pit of eager fans.
The infectious energy of the crowd continued for the entirety of the set, creating a fantastic synergy between the audience and performer, with my personal enthusiasm peaking when the boys performed “Sangria”. The tuneful and soulful lyrics swept over the audience, resulting in heartfelt swaying and sentimental shuffling across the auditorium.
The backing band:
The musicians supporting easy life deserve a spot in the limelight as their continuous and effortless support for the boys didn’t falter throughout the performance.
Overall:
Easy life delivered a lively and energetic performance, charming the crowd with their boyish behaviour and cheeky crowd surfing. Their bucket hats and bounding across the stage, showcased their passion and energy for creating and performing music with each other, displaying true friendship and enthusiasm.
They proudly commented before performing ‘Skeletons’ that this was their biggest gig to date, and their sense of achievement and elation was without a doubt relayed onto the the audience.
My only criticism and to justify knocking off 0.5 from a perfect evening, was the unexpectedly shocking mixing at the O2 Academy in Brixton. There were moments of hesitation throughout various songs, where I would be awash with an amalgamation of musical backing and no vocals. At points throughout the evening I would be engulfed in a cacophony of distorted bass and drums, leaving me struggling to catch a glimpse of the more melodic aspects of the performance such as the vocals, keys or guitar.
However, without a doubt, easy life kickstarted my return to live music with a bang. The evening was filled with a plethora of bops and boogying, and I cannot wait to see what the future holds for the boys.
If you like easy life, why not try: Declan McKenna: Bright, energetic, and a must-see live