We must admit to not knowing much about Yungblud’s music and have heard more about his reputation for high energy live shows. It was obvious from just glancing around that we were at a primarily young audience gig. It’s also obvious he’s doing something right, as here he is playing albeit a slightly curtained off World Resorts Arena. He has come a long way in a short time, with only three albums under his belt. His latest ‘Yungblud’ of course featuring heavily in tonight’s set, with titles like ‘I Cry 2’, ‘Sex Not Violence’ and ‘The Boy In The Black Dress’. It gives you a little insight that he sings about issues, not just to the young, as some of these issues affect all ages, but people’s right to be what they want to be, and say what they want to say, and to think for themselves.

Now for the show itself, waiting behind a stage sized illuminated curtain, with what looked like him silhouetted behind with horns on his head, it wasn’t just a projection. It dropped with a massive scream and roar from the attendees, dressed in what you could only describe as a dark Ronald McDonald outfit, even with the arch logo in black and white on his trousers. In fact, all his clothes were black and white, except for a pair of long pink socks! Running around like a maniac with a big grin to match, he was covered in sweat after a couple of songs. At certain points jumping up and down like a frog, encouraging – not that they needed much – the crowd to do the same. It was clear that this gig at the largest venue he has played blew his mind constantly saying, “Can You f****** believe this?”. Word of warning, he does use a lot of saucy language, with strong vocals delivering a raucous performance only stopping to talk to his followers, saying that “We are all f****** Yungblud”. it doesn’t matter how big the crowd, even running out to the side and climbing up to sing and say hello to people on the far side, before being helped down to return to the stage. He had a second smaller stage, which looked like a battered public convenience. Complete with a toilet and basin, which he dually sat on reading a book and smoking a fag, while a very dark story was read out, before lifting an umbrella with a hole in it with a shower of water coming down from above.

Back on stage, which was sometimes lit up with actual fires, he has numerous crowd participation numbers like ‘Fleabag’, ‘Doctor Doctor’ and ‘Psychotic Kids’, the energy never waned from both sides. His cheeky grin, almost demonic, can win over even non-fans, ending with a Machine Gun Kelly cover, ‘f *** The NRA’. Replacing the ‘NRA’ with ‘Sunak’, you know where he stands. His popularity I would bet money on, will continue to grow, and next time he plays here, without the curtain.

Photos by Geoff Griffe
Review by Jenny Griffe