Bright Light, Bright Light - Showing they have what it takes to make it!

*****

Everyone is mesmerised by the bright lights!

Bright Light, Bright Light ***** has always been impressive on the live circuit from the first time I saw him supporting the Scissor Sisters at the London, Roundhouse to the small venue of the Oxford, Jericho, to the last time I saw him at the London, Water Rats were even through technical problems he triumphed and showed a real love for his music and determination. Tonight he is playing the small venue of the Sebright Arms and it has been Sold Out!!! for a long time with even members of Rod's family not being able to get a ticket or get in. 

From the moment he opens with album starter 'Immature' you know tonight is going to be a very special gig for the Welsh born singer. This is one of my favourite songs that Rod Thomas has written and the emotion he puts into it, always makes it a good one to start with and as you hear the first notes you know that this is a Bright Light, Bright Light show. As the evening goes on the venue get's really hot and sweaty and your delighted by new songs and loads of old favourites in a set that is not self indulgent. You get everything you want and what better way to spice things up a little with the double single 'Feel It / Waiting for the Feeling' played in secession. 

Check Out! the performance of 'Immature' from the London, Sebright Arms Below...

Both these songs are really 90's sounding and have a real Gay Dance floor vibe and resemble workings from bands such as Electronic, Livin' Joy and maybe even the Nightcrawlers. Shockingly he produces this music better than some of the original artists and as he hits his sample pad in time to the music you can see that everyone is dancing and knows every word to both of these songs.

The beat for 'Waiting for the Feeling' is incredible and the message is really positive which you do not get from many songs these days and is something that we sometimes really need. "I want someone that reaches out, so we connect!" it's something we really need in our lives and do not always get so having a song like this that brings you hope really works for me personally.

 He continues the House Club vibe with a version of 'Being Sentimental' that sounds totally perfect tonight and keeps the interest of the audience and gives you a reason to keep on dancing. What we have all been waiting for though is new material and Rod really delivers with class on this with an amazing new number called 'There are no Miracles' which even after one listen you know that the new album is going to be equally as good as the last if not better.

Yes the new songs have a slightly new direction and sound a little different they are more personal than the happy numbers that made up 'Make me believe in Hope', but I believe it's a good move as Rod said "Not all Gay men are happy all the time!" which is very true and it's good to see the other side of someone who is Gay's life that they have loads of dimensions and it's not all about being happy and going clubbing in bright colours and that there is some deep emotions going on behind the scenes. I think this is really brought across in some of the new material and it has really impressed me. With the new you always have to mix it back in with the old and 'Disco Moment' seems like an old friend taken off the shelf and presented to us with a bow.

I love the fact that Rod always worked with people he get's on with very well with, you can see a great bond onstage and this friendship leads to a very tight unit and a wall of sound that hits you on each song. He also picks musicians that are all really talented so every note that is played live really comes across with precision. This comes out really well on new song 'An open Heart' which has been a really big YouTube hit, being listened to over 42,000 times already. On this track I think Rod has mixed up sounds from the past with futuristic and modern sounds to bring you a song that really hits you hard and in the small venue in London, this intensity makes your wonder why he is not filling massive venues yet.

I do not think it's going to be long before Bright Light, Bright Light is a household name and all over the radio, this is very special music. His early hit 'Love (Part 2)' does what it always does, get's people singing and joining in with the performance but the best and most magical moment of the evening is when Rod talks about what 'In your Care' is all about. The song is about missing his family when he is not with them and the fact he knows they still care for him even when he is not with them and he know that he is in their heart.

This song hits you really hard and you think about all the times when you feel alone and the thought that there is someone their to care is a really nice thing that we all want. I think this song should be heard by everyone that feels lonely because it really helps you even if it makes you feel a little sad in the first place. This song is just so beautiful and I can't say everything that it means to me personally but I strongly advise you listen to it, you can see the music video the bottom of this page and the performance at the Sebright Arms just under this.

 Check Out! the performance of 'In your Care' at the London, Sebright Arms Below... plus a really nice introduction by Rod!

'Cry at Films' is also another highlight because today it's an amazing duet with Milly Blue one of the lovely backing singers that have been singing with him all night. Her vocals really work on the track and bring something new and everybody is thinking I would love to hear a recorded version of this. Milly Blue also performed a great solo set earlier in the evening that was really unique and I couldn't even think of something similar to it, so was a real triumph for her.

Elton John is a big fan of Bright Light, Bright Light and asked personally to be on one of the tracks 'I wish we were Leaving' which sadly he is not hear tonight to perform it but the version without him is great Anyway. It's just showing how far Rod has come that an artist like Elton wants to work with him and the finished product really works showing a great partnership. You can read a review of this single on this site and see what we thought of it in more detail.

The set is ended with the single 'Moves' that I like more every time I hear it, it's a real grower of a song and ends the set of in the way it was started and makes a good finale to a magical evening that I think everyone in attendance really enjoyed especially everyone in the band. If you have not seen Bright Light, Bright Light quickly because they are going places and soon you will not be able to get a ticket and you will be miles back, because this is an artist that will be really big. I loved every minute of this evening and I am so glad I didn't miss it and truly beautiful concert.

Check Out! the performance of 'Moves' at the London, Sebright Arms Below...

Bright Light, Bright Light - Setlist
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Immature
Feel It 
Waiting for the Feeling 
Being Sentimental 
There are no Miracles
Disco Moments
An open Heart
Love (Part 2)
In your Care
Cry at Films
I wish we were Leaving 
Moves

Review and Photo's by Dan Devour

Check Out! the Video for 'In your Care' Below...