Banks at the Roundhouse

Banks at the Roundhouse | Live review

14^th March 2017

14 March 2017

With two albums to her name, celebrated as the Next Big Thing by MTV and the BBC and with an endless stream of critical acclaim, LA singer Banks still remains a mystery. The R&B chanteuse ended her whistle-stop European tour at Camden’s Roundhouse in London with a mesmerising and, in parts, ethereal show, which proved this artist is more than just hype.

Playing material from her sophomore record The Alter, released late 2016, Banks kicked off the gig with an entrancing rendition of Poltergeist – a moody trap-fused ballad that was accompanied with a slick abstract dance routine performed by the singer’s dancers as she commanded the stage hitting every mark to the beat.

Surprisingly, dance played a huge role throughout the concert with the California-based songwriter proving to everyone that she is actually a talented dancer. Fuck with Myself took on a new and sexy lease of life as the singer and her dance duo writhed and moved together to the jaunty beat. Meanwhile the roles were reversed when she performed the infectious Gemini Feed and it was the audience’s turn to get on their feet.

For an artist like Banks, who prides herself on being a closed book – she admitted she doesn’t “do” social media, confessing she lets her management control that side of things – interacting with the concertgoers was always going to be tricky. Between numbers she turned to the crowd and gushed over her love for London and her followers. Such fleeting comments were hardly a window into the life of the musician – the girl from LA – but her fans returned the favour with shrill screaming and their own declarations of love just as she sprung back into performer mode, pounding the stage with a thunderous rendition of Judas.

However, the highlight of the night was easily during a heart-wrenching version of Better. Before getting into the tune, Banks asked the audience all to put their phones away to really grasp the message and intensity of the song. It was a tall order to request from the smartphone generation, and though little LED screens inevitably began to crop up after a minute it didn’t distract the rest of the crowd who were absolutely hypnotised as her fragile voice filled the Roundhouse.

★★★★★

Yusuf Tamanna
Photos: Nick Bennett

For further information about Banks and future events visit here.