Bands a lot better than Swim Deep have played gigs that were worse than the show put on by the West Midland’s indie-poppers.
This is not to say to say that Swim Deep were great but should act as comfort that others have started from further behind to go on to better things.
The most disappointing aspect of their live show was they lacked the gusto to back-up what is some very promising songwriting on debut album Where The Heaven Are We.
Frontman Austin Williams didn’t have the confidence to really engage with a youthful crowd which, merely by turning up, the band had in their hand.
The charming and at times John Squire-esque guitar hooks from the record were lost in a meandering, often badly executed and occasionally dull set.
Swim Deep could do with some intense practice or simply touring the country’s toilet venues until their live show matches what they can produce in the studio.
A cover version of Cyndi Lauper’s Girls Just Want To Have Fun was a rare high point.
However, if they were able perform a whole set in the spirit they showed in a grace-saving encore performance of Honey then they’ll be around for a while.
If they can’t, they’ll disappear rapidly.
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