GIG: Ayria (Sheffield)

 

Allegedly this is Ayria's last UK tour, though she says she might play one off gigs here in future... so it was a must attend, despite the frantic week that preceded it. After the Resistanz headliner I hoped we might be in the big room with the air conditioning - but no it was another sweaty show in the back room (though not as bad as 2014 or 2016 - phew!).

The show started with 'Battle Cry', which is a cool 

song but for some reason it seemed to go on a bit... 

I enjoyed the show, but I can't help thinking that Jen's songwriting has improved greatly over the years and the songs from Plastic Makes Perfect, Paper Dolls and This is My Battle Cry make the older songs seem a little bit weak. I would dearly loved to have picked the setlist for the show myself, but the (possibly) longer standing fans in attendance seemed to like the older songs so I guess it's fair enough.

This was probably my second best gig of the year so far, but it was also mildly disappointing. Perhaps I was just a bit over driving/standing up all evening after a pretty hardcore week. My foot was hurting as well, perhaps no surprise... still it was a lot better than that Faderhead gig in London back in May.