Live Review: The Jungle Giants, Lastlings

Last year's Unearthed High finalists Lastlings show a maturity in songwriting that is well beyond their years and, despite a minor measure of nervousness on vocalist Amy Dowdle's part, this translates onto the stage quite well too. You and Urges draw us into visceral caverns, and it's from these vulnerable spaces that the sibling duo are able to work their musical magic. Although quite antithetical, their deeply emotive and moody brand of electro-pop works in wonderful contrast with tonight's headliners and fleshes out the experiential breadth of this unassuming bill to quite a surprising degree.  

Not only is tonight the first of two sold-out shows at The Triffid, but it's also the very first of The Jungle Giants tour and they are absolutely raring to go. They're evidently thrilled to be playing their hometown after the glowing response to their recently released third album, Quiet Ferocity, and their packed-in, all-ages crowd are about as enthused as one could hope for. This synergy between the stage and floor imbues their highly energised songs with an emphasised charge, making classics like Skin To Bone, Mr Polite, and She's A Riot sound more joyous than ever.

In a brief pause between songs, frontman Sam Hales delightfully confesses, "This is super nerve-racking, but I'm feeling really good!" The sentiment barely has time to sink in before the band launch back into their fevered motions and the fans once again strive to lose themselves in fits of physical pleasure. Bassist Andrew Dooris is as much a delight to watch as hear. He soaks up the dancefloor's excitement and gives it back twofold, bouncing over each note with the animated urgency of a Mexican jumping bean almost throughout the entire performance. At times the energy in the room feels so high that one could be forgiven for losing themselves in a moment's confusion and thinking they were celebrating a festival set.

I Am What You Want Me To Be, Kooky Eyes, Every Kind Of Way — the peaks are many, but You've Got Something is the absolute highest among them. In moments like these, it's plain to see why The Jungle Giants have already enjoyed such levels of success. Thankfully they keep the good times coming and, if late gems Bad Dream and Feel The Way I Do are anything to go by, The Jungle Giants still have plenty to offer and their horizon looks ever so fruitful.