Live Review: Harmony, Summer Flake

Summer Flake offer up an engaging set. Stephanie Crase provides sweet harmonies, her lyrics confessional but charming. The laidback pop vibe of this band make them a really enjoyable precursor to the main act.

Conceptually, Harmony are incredibly interesting. The contrast between the three-piece band, which essentially plays punk, and the three female backing vocalists is what makes Harmony work and has earned them such a loyal following. After selling out their album launch a few weeks back, the band decided to put on another show and The Tote proves the perfect backdrop for Tom Lyngcoln's harsh vocals. Almost everyone in the audience sings along with Lyngcoln's signature wailing. The three girls look like sirens onstage, their harmonies angelic compared to the roughness of the rest of the act. Although this contrast is what makes the band interesting, the clash is, at times, a bit too chaotic; the songs relying too much on the differences between the two parts of the act.

Lyngcoln's vocals are overwhelming in their intensity. He enters each song with such a high level of intensity that it leaves little room for songs to build. Such a constant, highly emotive delivery is exhausting to experience for a full set. Harmony do put on an entertaining performance however, with each member on stage an absolute master at what they do.