Before they took to the stage, Scottish band Vida kicked the night off. I hadn't actually been familiar with them before, but they quickly won me over. Their feel-good indie sound paired with harmonic guitar work made them an ideal act to warm up the crowd. A personal highlight was realising I already knew their song ‘Fade Away’. The audience’s reactions made their set truly special as everyone seemed to enjoy them as much as I did. There was no talking over their music, no indifference as sometimes is the case with opening acts, just genuine appreciation and engagement.
When The Lathums arrived on stage, perfectly on time too, they wasted no time in taking command of the room. Opening with high-energy numbers ‘No Direction’ and ‘Say My Name’, they immediately set the tone for the rest of the night. Not only was the crowd simply buzzing from the start, but frontman Alex Moore has an undeniable, infectious stage presence. His vocal delivery is out of this world, and his little dance moves made the whole crowd want to sway along with him.
The setlist was a brilliant blend of classics and new tracks from the recently released album Matter Does Not Define. Although the album had only been out since late February, fans had already fully embraced the new material. The crowd took in every single note in a way that would make you think they’d been singing it for years.
One of the biggest highlights from the new releases was ‘Heartbreaker’ as everyone was chanting "La La La Laaaaa" and jumping along, sending a buzzing euphoria throughout NX. The way the audience received these newer songs would make everyone believe they are instant classics, proving just how much The Lathums have evolved musically whilst at the same time, keeping their fanbase completely on board.
Of course, older tracks then felt like beloved treasures sprinkled in between. ‘Struggle’ was, unsurprisingly, a standout moment, allowing Alex Moore to showcase his raw and vulnerable vocals. Given the song’s backstory – written after losing his father in his teenage years – it carried deeply moving emotions that the audience definitely felt too.
As the concert drew to a close, The Lathums made sure to end it on a high note with ‘Sad Face Baby’. It was the perfect closing track to leave the crowd and venue with the same kind of energy they carried throughout the whole set. Looking back, it really felt like the band had somehow outdone themselves with every single track.
A truly heartwarming moment was when the whole crowd sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to Alex and his bandmates surprised him with a cake on stage. It was a small but special gesture that made the evening feel even more personal.
Altogether, The Lathums delivered an outstanding performance that provided both introspective and electrifying moments. Their ability to balance deeply emotional lyrics with rhythms that make you want to dance and belt your lungs out is truly unique. If this gig is anything to go by, their new release Matter Does Not Define may just be a defining career moment for them, and I personally can’t wait to see what comes next.