Some would argue that it’s not yet the time to restart live music, but last week the remaining restrictions were lifted – a long-awaited moment for the hard-hit UK entertainment industry – and Rough Trade opened the doors to their venue in Nottingham Upstairs to welcome him back to Leicester’s simple life. Bobby Twidale was in the audience.
The last time Easy Life played Rough Trade was in January 2020. On Thursday evening (July 22nd) they returned and promoted their new and debut album Life’s a Beach, which was released on May 28th this year.
The anticipation was high as ticket holders formed a line along Broad Street and around the corner, a now instinctive social divide between each bubble. In line were Maisie Chapman and Harvey David, both 18, from Derby. They had their first vaccination behind them and were in favor of a Covid pass so that they could also take part in live events in the fall.
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There was no hesitation for Maisie: “I had a shot and my next one is coming soon,” she said, adding, “It was a breeze.”
Fans enjoy the Easy Life gig at Rough Trade
Harvey said he had a conversation with his mother, who has reservations about the passport, and said, “She sees it as a deprivation of liberty. You have to have a phone and an internet connection – that cuts off certain people. “
But he is fully behind the idea and did not hesitate to get his first jab: “It’s good to be back in the world. It’s been a year and a half since we literally came here to see Easy Life and now we’re back, ”he said.
Easy Life front man and songwriter Murray Matravers, 25, agrees. He said, “We all have a single vaccine and are keen to get the second as soon as possible.”
Jude Powers, 18, of Mansfield, can see both sides of the argument, “I had the first. If you feel you need it, get it, ”he said, adding,“ You can have your own opinion. ”
Rough Trade has reopened its live rooms to full capacity, but is encouraging customers to use caution in helping to create a safe space for everyone.
Easy Life fans Maisie Chapman and Harvey David, both 18, from Derby
Easy Life fan Isaac Twidale, 26, from Nottingham said: “I haven’t had my vaccination because I had Covid a few weeks ago, but I did a lateral flow test before I came here.”
The Leicester band tells the stories of their demographics through clever and melancholy lyrics – almost poetic, unmistakably slang – in melodies that are an optimistic indie melting pot of hip-hop, funk and jazz with a top note of brass.
Their sound finds resonance with a constantly growing and incredibly diverse fan base. If you’d been to one of her BC (Before Covid) gigs, you’d have seen her – teenagers bunched up in the mosh pit, parents on the balcony.
They spent much of the lockdowns in their respective bedrooms, communicating with their fan base through social media, and giving live virtual appearances. Matravers was happy to have time to write the band’s first album, but sorely missed the lifeblood of live performances. “I tried to turn it around positively but it was difficult for us,” he said last year.
Matravers is excited to return to Nottingham: “It’s great to be back and record our new album Life’s a Beach. I can’t believe it’s been almost 2 years. We’re really excited to be back on the road, ”he said.
In a pre-show speech, Easy Life’s tour manager Raj echoed that sentiment but admitted that there were initial fears. “I think everyone was a little concerned. We played our first show in Leicester, at home, which made it very enjoyable for everyone and we’ve been really looking forward to the next month ever since, ”he said.
The gig was everything their fans expect. A mixture of new songs and old favorites, a bit of cheeky banter, social distancing as a reminder, as familiar melodies were sung by every person in the crowd – a communal, sometimes rough, always verbatim choir of background singers.
“The audience was really excited to go out and see live music again,” said Matravers, adding, “It was nice to see.”
Queue outside Rough Trade in Nottingham for the Easy Life gig
The acoustic intimacy of the upper venue – suitable for the mood of its sound and weakened for the smaller venue – let the musicality come to the fore. An Easy Life gig is always a happy occasion, but this one was blessed – smiles everywhere, the feeling of a perfect moment. But Murray did without his typical crowd surfing and when the album signing after the gig the guys all wore masks.
He stated: “We are doing our best to keep a distance between ourselves and the audience at all times and to take all necessary precautions.”
The gig ended, as always, with an exuberant rendition of their groundbreaking anthem Nightmares, then Pockets, the track that started it all.
Easy Life will be back in the Leicester area on November 5th this year.
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