I’ve been following The Reytons for a few years now, and after being witness to the lairy affair that was their Boiler Shop gig back in March, I was more than ready to spend another night with one of England’s biggest indie rock bands.
Going into a Reytons show, you generally know what to expect: high energy tunes, a bouncing crowd, and an unforgettable atmosphere. A bigger surprise, however, was the opening act, The Lottery Winners. If I’ve said it once I’ve said it a thousand times, the best way to find new music is to pay attention to openers at indie shows, and The Reyton’s choices did not disappoint.
First on the setlist was Birmingham’s The Clause, whose early set provided a solid warmup for those who managed to get in early enough, as they came on only 15 minutes after doors opened. A classic four-piece indie band, the lads’ advertised “limitless swagger” was more than evident as they provided a fast start to the night, marking a sign of good things to come.
High energy tunes, a bouncing crowd, and an unforgettable atmosphere
The Lottery Winners have been around the block, touring with various acts across the UK since 2008 and even collaborating on a track with Nickelback in 2021. They bring to the table a brand of peppy indie pop which just put the crowd in a good mood. Magnetic lead singer Thom Rylance taught the crowd lyrics and led singalongs throughout the set, working the fans into the perfect headspace for the headline act.
By the time Reytons came out, the crowd was in a frenzy. They have mastered the art of building and maintaining atmosphere, with the music turned up to eleven and the light show out in full force. It isn’t hard to tell that the band love performing, with the energy palpable and the crowd giving back every ounce of enthusiasm tenfold, even maintaining the vibe through slower songs.
It isn't hard to tell that the band love performing, with the energy palpable
Reytons played through a mixture of new singles and older classics, making sure to hit fan favourites such as “Slice of Lime,” “Tallest man in the nightclub,” and “Kids off the estate,” balancing them out with the two singles released from the new album, “Avalanche,” and “Cash in hand and fake IDs.”
Ultimately, any fears that The Reyton’s wouldn’t be able to live up to the vibes of their previous Newcastle shows were quickly quashed as they kept NX jumping throughout the show. If you’re looking for an exciting night out, I cannot recommend a Reytons show enough. I’ve been lucky enough to experience them live twice now, and will be running back for a third helping at the absolute earliest opportunity.
