LIVE REVIEW: RACHEL CROFT BAND SHOWCASE - 21SOHO

There is always something special about getting an invitation to attend a private Showcase event and when it happens to be with someone you like, all the better. Today's late afternoon event hosted by TALENTBANQ is for Rachel Croft and it is somewhat against the clock as later this same evening 80's Indie band The The's front man Matt Johnson will be having a book launch event.

The room is filled with the great and the good, Gibson guitars are here and are loaning Rachel some of their product, Spotify are in, as is Dr Fox himself. Being a somewhat select event the room has been halved from its normal size by a curtain, chairs and tables are provided for what will be a powerful performance. There is a screen behind the band playing out another of Rachel's spectacular animated videos.

This will be a first time for #TEAMw21 to get to see Rachel play with a band, she had always promised it would be a different show entirely and so it would prove. A 3 piece support band would consist of CJ Clark on percussion, Max on bass, so youthful looking he may well have had to do his homework after the show and Nathalie De Leuw, ( Nat ) on guitar, who has been both writing and producing with Rachel on her most recent material.

There's an atmospheric guitar backing as open sings the opening few lines of "Roots"

"Oh dark clouds arising

There's a storm on the horizon

Look out, here she comes

Can't undo what you done"

It then becomes something of a wall of noise, the thumping back beat, the guitars madly riffing, it is unrelenting powerful stuff. Nat and Rachel will face off against each other and will end with Rachel sporting a huge grin. As introductions go it was a definite statement.

One of three new songs previewed is "Brown Eyes", which was a more subtle piece of classic pop, with backing tracks of keyboards.

"Baby I've brown eyes

I know you just want blue"

Nat provides some powerful guitar lines to finish and already on just this first play it seems destined to become a firm fan favourite.

Already released into the outside world was "Time Waits For No Man", technical issues meant that this did not have "additional oomph", though in all honesty not sure it needed any. It let Nat's guitar efforts shine all the more, while Rachel's vocals were their clearest - especially the "F*** you Caroline!" one, but they would then be super powerful during the wailing closing section.

For "Adrenalin", Rachel would take off her guitar, the sound, a combo of guitar, drums and industrial sounding synth, would give Rachel a chance to act out. This was the most challenging track to try to get your head round on first hearing, sultry, rocking, with dance rhythms as well - it was a true Prince like fusion of styles.

The final song of this rocking early evening soiree was "Bittersweet" the song that spawned the video that had been playing in the background. Furiously paced with an incessant drum beat, fearsome guitar work and a snappy rock / pop chorus.

Towards the end, Rachel would hold up her guitar, and mouth "Thank you" before stepping off stage leaving the band to close out

It was short and sweet, but high octane and powerful for sure, Rachel will be bringing these songs and more to London at Oslo on May 16th.