A melange of British Country and Southern USA Rock
“This is your captain speaking.” goes the sound track intro before the foursome comes on stage as a nod to their name, First Time Flyers, as if we were all belted up and ready for take-off, writes Eleanor Thorn…
This was my ‘first flight’ with this band in a room full of fans, friends and a good few family too, most of whom knew the words to their catchiest songs.
First Time Flyers had a sell-out tour two years ago, an achievement for any band, newcomer or not, in this post-lockdown era.
This year, they come with a newly-released debut album “Bound to Break”, a marvellously multiple meaning-ed title encompassing breaking up, breaking down, breaking rules and breaking through.
Poppy Fardell and Vicki Manser, fully decked out in flattering red hot pants, are flanked by Tim Prottey-Jones and Jake Morrell, on rhythm and lead guitars, and we are promised a full album run-through. To their rear, barely visible, are bassist and drummer, Jason Boyd and Chris Barber, keeping fantastic rhythm for what is a very tight show that packs a punch.
Their winning energy is immediately explosive: they are mega-stoked to be on stage and they are here to party and energise us.
My friend and I slip further back, as more accustomed to quieter acoustic gigs, my ears are untrained for this level of thumping bass volume, but from that rear centre position, the levels are good (Dan Jones on sound).
They open with “Almost”, about ‘when you’re almost there but not’ and things don’t quite fall into place. Immediately their superb harmonies are to the fore, and the little they say between songs tells us more than amply that they pen their own songs in a very heartfelt and collaborative fashion.
They are playful, powerful, passionate in their performance, and they sure can turn up the pace and make some NOISE.
This week they are No. 2 in the Official Country Album Chart and “Happier” is Single of the Week on Country Line Radio. Theirs is a melange of British Country and Southern USA Rock influences, catchy pop romance and wistful lyrics.
The girls know how to dance in sequence as well as sing in harmony: their West End musical experience gives their tip top delivery an almost cabaret feel – my gig companion recalled harmonies of the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac, choreography of Bucks Fizz, rock-feel of Lynyrd Skynyrd and Tom Petty.
More of a musician than I, he praised highly their ability to do ‘what no one does anymore’: write middle eight sections to their songs – introducing new melodies midway.
Contemporary comparisons can be made with Little Big Town, at whose gig Jake and Tim first met. They all love Lady A, they tell me afterwards. Thames Estuary meets Mississippi Delta, say I. Absolutely professional and very hardworking, this bunch of well-matched and talented friends have more to come and are giving the type of gig one doesn’t see much of any more.
Given the size of the merchandise queue, their album might rise higher. The band were charmingly generous with their time with fans, as enthused off stage as on. “Iconic” (their words) Omeara being Mumford and Sons musician Ben Lovett’s brainchild, they are a good fit in this convincingly distressed music hall-styled railway-arch theatre, that I was delighted to be experiencing for the first time.
First Time Flyers are on tour around the country till 10th October.
Check out tour details here: https://www.instagram.com/Firsttimeflyers – https://www.tiktok.com/@first_time_flyers/video/7479374098741693718
