Self Esteem - Make everyone smile in Bristol

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Prioritise you listening pleasure

Self Esteem **** is the stage name of Rebecca Taylor, who prior to this spent a decade in the Folk band Slow Club before deciding to pursue her own musical avenues. As well as putting her skills to range of music she also acts and composes for theatre shows as I think can be seen by the stage show. Tonight, she was performing as the closing act of the Bristol Sounds festivals that had seen Mika, The Levellers and several other acts play over the week.

Self Esteem takes the stage after her backing dancers with all of them dressed in grey suits, four of them all in matching suits, perhaps she has taken a little bit of inspiration from Kraftwerk. I alluded to the theatrical nature of the show, and this is evident from the start with a small staircase in the middle of the stage and a large screen at the back initially stating the name of her most recent album ‘Prioritise Pleasure’ and the title of the first track.

‘Fucking Wizardry’ is the second song and has around half the crowd joining in on stage the whole thing is fully choreographed with Rebecca fully interacting with dancers throughout.  There is a costume change whereby all the jackets, trousers and shoes are removed to what resembles red swimming costumes underneath which become the new uniform and a red dress to keep the theme for the principal artist. I think a point about modern gigs was made at this point when it was declared “I recommend listening” and the band all threw their phones away.

I always find it mild amusing when acts make a point at the start of the show about keeping the language clean for the children in the audience. Then we get to the song ‘How can I help You’ which also contains the lyrics “I don't know Shit” evidently children only hear swearing when it’s said and not sung. In fact, the whole song is hardly family friendly as it appears to be about what grownups get up to when having some private time. This is followed by another costume change as the band and dancers are introduced; luckily, they didn't take any more off or definitely wouldn't have even a family show.

Rebecca reappears in a black suit and her guitar for ‘John Elton’ which she performs on her own this one has a very different feel with no dancers or band for this song onstage and a very stripped back sound. It is her nickname for Elton John who is performing on the same night about 30 miles away in Glastonbury. Must be something about Elton and the last night of Bristol Sounds as he also played up the road in Ashton Gate Stadium when First Aid Kit headlined the Sunday last year,

Last time she played Bristol it was the Thekla, but it is declared “there is better air here” which is fortunate as we our outside and not in the hull of a boat. Then it is straight into ‘The 345’ she was worried about the show but in the end a reasonable crowd had built up throughout the afternoon.  Everyone in black and white now ready for her biggest hit ‘I do this all the Time’ which gets quite a reaction. Biggest reaction of the night. Well, I say last song but as even she said we know how this works and it was straight back for ‘The Best’ and real final song ‘Still Reigning’ before the band literally conga offstage and end a wonderful performance.

Review by Jon Cooper and Photos by Steve Owen (Icarus Photography)

Self Esteem - Setlist
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Prioritise Pleasure
F**king Wizardry
Moody
Just Kids
Interlude (Happy Valley)
Mother
How can I help You
Love second music First
Girl Crush
John Elton
The 345
You Forever
I do this all the Time
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I'm Fine
The Best
Still Reigning

Check Out! the Video for 'I Do This All The Time' Below...