Ben Hayes

The atmosphere from the off was great, with a lovely appreciation between fans and band alike, there was even a crack about being from the north of their country, and knowing how folks get more friendly the more north you get.

The first few songs, coming from their second album, Sounding Amosaic, had most of the place dancing away immediately. The rock element of Bedouin certainly comes through more in the live show, and for a three piece band, they sound a lot 'fuller' than you might expect. (There was a fourth guy playing on a few songs, chipping in with the odd bit of guitar/djemba type things and synth/keyboard). When I say more rock-y, I don't mean they were smashing drum kits all over the shop, but the ability of the guys as instrumentalists really shone through, sexy ass base lines complemented perfectly with some juicy guitar and really quite varied sounds coming from said, non-smashed, drum kit.

At one point there was a cracking little break-down that then involved the lyrics to both Eva Cassidy's Fever and that-song-that-you'd-all-know-if-you-heard that goes: You don't love me, no no no. After that things got a little more chilled, partly as Bedouin played, well, more chilled out numbers, and partly as they were from the new album, which the crowd seemed less familiar with. A pre-smoking ban Plug would have been awesome and atmospheric right about now, but alas, them's the breaks these days. (So the gig would have only basically been improved by being held in a prison, or the House of Commons.)

Knowing exactly how to work a crowd though, the dancing and really quite infectious atmosphere was right back before long, helped by more a familiar new song, Walls Fall Down and then my personal favourite, Gyasi Went Home was played, which was nice, even if it seemed Jay might have forgotten the odd word. There was a decent attempt at a sing-a-long in another 2nd album song, Money Worries, but this only really acted as a warm up for the audience participation to come.

I almost got through without mentioning, that song from the advert that goes 'echo, echo/hey beautiful day'. But, I'm afraid, it's worth a mention. Partly as it was introduced as a 'song for all the people that like to sing-a-long out there', and partly because it started out as Ben E. King's Stand By Me, and once the crowd figured out what song it was about to become (When the Night Feels My Song, in case you don't know what song I am on about), well, you couldn't help but get a buzz, and join in with the singing.

As the band finished the set, an encore was inevitable, and the crowd soon got their wish. The whole, really rather fun evening was drawn to an end with a football chant-esque finale, the final song being sang back at the band with all the gusto of partying FA Cup winners.

They really do know how to work a crowd. Songs were long at the right type, can't-help-but-dance-to-this at the right time, and nicely changed for the live show in places. Hat's off to you Eon, Jay and Pat, that was perhaps the best atmosphere for a gig that I've been to in Sheffield. Needless to say everyone left the Plug grinning from ear to ear.

http://www.myspace.com/bedouin