Don Broco, Man With a Mission, Yonaka

Norwich, University of East Anglia (U.E.A.) on Mon 12th Feb 2018

Bedford’s Don Broco released their third studio album ‘Technology’ earlier this month and in the process scored their first top five hit in the UK Albums Chart. This achievement came on the back of selling out their biggest ever headline show at Alexandra Palace back in November. So the future certainly seems bright for the band that are presently in the midst of a fourteen date UK tour that features yet more sold out shows.

Although tonight’s show at the UEA LCR in Norwich isn’t sold out it is very busy and is packed from the start for tonight’s opening act Yonaka. I first encountered Yonaka a year ago and although their talent was clear, there appeared to be something missing. Well, whatever that was they have found in the past year as tonight they were seemingly a different band altogether. Yonaka are now a band brimming with confidence and the tunes to match. If they continue to progress as quickly as they have been then Yonaka could very well be a name we will be hearing a lot more of.

ManWithaMission

Up next are a band I know nothing about, MAN WITH A MISSION. As they walk onstage wearing giant wolf masks, I will admit to assuming they would be awful. I also assume that these masks would be removed after the first song. I should know by now not to assume, because firstly the masks stay on for the entire set and secondly the band are actually very good. MAN WITH A MISSION, who it turns out hail from Japan, put in a set full of catchy numbers which sees the audience lap up every moment. The highlight of the set comes with a unique take on Nirvana classic ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’.

With the fervent crowd suitably warmed up it’s time for the arrival of their heroes Don Broco who deliver a blistering opening of ‘Pretty’ and ‘Everybody’. The band certainly set the pace of the night early and it barely dissipates for the next ninety minutes. The band undoubtedly do not lack in bravado and completely own a stage that’s complimented by a decent light show.

DonBroco

The set list this evening is almost entirely made up of ‘Technology’ and its predecessor ‘Automatic’. There is definitely no shortage of hits as the likes of ‘Superlove’, ‘Automatic’, ‘Technology’ and ‘Money Power Fame’ create one of the rowdiest crowds the UEA has seen in recent memory. Earlier tracks to get an airing include ‘Priorities’ and ‘Thug Workout’ which also go down very well with the enthusiastic followers in attendance.

On tonights evidence Don Broco certainly deserve their recent successes and look likely to grow bigger. Perhaps a prominent festival slot is on the horizon in 2018, but back to tonight and there is still time for the obligatory encore. First ‘Come Out To LA’ and then ‘T-Shirt Song’ see an end to another quality night of music for Norwich.

Don Broco

article by: Paul Barnes

photos by: Denis Gorbatov

published: 14/02/2018 11:28



FUTURE GIGS


sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.