This might raise an eyebrow for some who are used me reviewing guitar bands with everyone dressed in black. Some might even skip over this on that basis, thinking ‘that’s not for me’. This would be a mistake. Sure this is pure alt pop. Granted there’s not much instrumentation on stage, essentially just rhythm, but make no mistake, this is brilliant music and as for the show, it’s stunning. Sometimes music can be good by just being fun and that’s fine, but Self Esteem is much more than simple fun. This is a statement. Taking to the stage to roars of applause, seriously it’s loud! I saw Mogwai in here a few weeks ago, I know what loud in Albert Hall sounds like and this is breathtaking. We kick off with ‘Prioritise Pleasure’, Rebecca declaring “I’m free” as those monolithic synth slabs rip through the room. This really is the perfect venue, its old church aesthetic complimenting the gospel like harmonies of ‘Fucking Wizardry’. These are my two favourite songs and I’m mildly concerned I’ve peaked too early. Fear not. ‘Moody’ is pure pop with pin point choreography. There’s six on stage. Two in the rhyme section, then Rebecca and three other vocalist. I should know their names. Look them up if you like, they deserve the credit as they really are superb. They’re a gang. As much as any band you’d care to go see. Maybe more so to be fair. They put a shift in too. The dancing barely stops. In the crowd too. If you’re not moving you might be dead? The David Byrne suits are removed for ‘Mother’ in favour of red outfits that match the lighting. I don’t know the song, but it’s good. Perhaps not as good as ‘How Can I Help You’ which is an absolute juggernaut, with Rebecca banging extra drums to drive it home harder. The full lights return for ‘Girl Crush’ which is just as well as those red demonic lights were starting to hurt my tired eyes. ‘John Elton’ follows, it’s striped back with just Rebecca on guitar. You can hear a pin drop… and the aircon, which seems to bother her, but thankfully isn’t turned off. It’s bloody hot in here. ‘The 345’ cranks things up again. It’s a big show, on a small(ish) stage, with minimal but brilliant use of theatre. Lighting. Costume changes. It’s all here. Plus that voice. Rebecca sounds fantastic, they all do. As disco banger ‘You Forever’ closes the roar is back. It’s deafening and sets the loud environment warning off on my watch… again. It’s a celebration. The chorus of ‘I Do This All The Time’ is belted back and most of the spoken verses too. All packed with glorious celebratory venom. ‘I’m Fine’ kicks off the encore with that bass stomp, before the live drums kick in. It’s magnificent, Rebecca crouched at the top of the stairs prop at the centre of the stage, poised to attack. The energy in the room is palpable, everyone in a frenzy, barking along with the outro sample. I’m not quite sure how they’re still going, they’re like Duracell bunnies tearing through ‘The Best’, before closing with ‘Still Reigning’. It needs to be big after all the bombast and it is. Seriously powerful stuff and even though there’s barely room to raise my hands to applaud, I do, we all do. Just wonderful.
