Torrential rains appropriately burdens Hackney’s Oslo tonight as Flyte headlined the capital in their borough of residence. Rest assured though that the trickling of raindrops off the crowd’s clothing and the consequential dampness that festered the dimly lit venue was promptly cleared when the triad of bands took stage and brought comforting, well-received warmth.
This gig was part of their “Diamond White” Tour a cerulean and white tinted affair, here the band was able to exhibit their well-oiled performance. Following the bewitching musical rituals of Annie Eve and the headline-worth performance by the phenomenal MOVIE – whom I am sure we all realized by now are certainly destined for wonderful things – Flyte took the stage.
The crowd, a largely estrogen-carrying group of females, seemed hopelessly enamored by the band, which with enthusiasm and confidence delivered an incredibly polished performance. Even the men seemed struck by the quartet’s enviable modesty – a young man could be seen texting a message on the lines of “…so many beautiful men here, but none of them seem to want to chat me up”.
The stage, only decorated by a few pastel-colored panels, was the center of a rhythmical and slightly musical lighting-display, with the lights almost following the narrative of each track. Delivering a bipolar mix of uplifting melodies, angelic – almost boy band-ish – harmonies yet with melancholic themes, the band are at ease on the stage, practicing their well-devised formula of mellow Pop.
The set list of pitch-perfect singles – “We Are The Rain”, “Light Me Up” -, B-sides and new material – including a Chris Isaak-esque new ditty – almost made everyone forget that we were sheltered by the outside’s Nordic weather. To amp up that packaged holiday feeling a bit more, aside singing about cheap alcohol and shades, the cheerful group of lads were able to entice the snooty audience into a well-deserved clap-along, which they promptly captured as a memory of an exotically balmy November night in Hackney.
