Words by: Heidi Dixon
Photos by: Soul Media
10…
Anticipation was high as the night started with a countdown from a distant Alexa-type voice.
9…
Blue and orange lights blinked around the stage.
8…
Aethereal Alexa proceeded to count to 1 before the lights blazed red for ‘lift-off’. It seemed we were being propelled on a journey through the colourful cosmos. Upon landing, we entered ‘Fizzville’: a realm where bland is banned and the only rule is to have fun.
At this point, I could tell we were in for theatrics. Tone set, FIZZ burst onto the stage in a blur of colour, all wide-eyed and warm smiles.
They played straight into the fan favourite, High in Brighton. Upon reflection, singing a song about a UK city was a little bit sobering after being taken on a magical space simulation, but I digress. It was more about the feeling of escapism than the destination, and it was a bouncy tune nonetheless!
This got everyone warmed up and wanting more which they delivered with tracks from their debut album The Secret to Life. Between songs, the four friends joked back and forth, revealing a heartwarming chemistry that lent itself to their music.
The highlights for me were As Good as It Gets, an anthem that’s an ode to girlhood and a rallying cry to feminism. Hell of a Ride’s undeniably catchy chorus, also captured that familiar feeling of adolescence slipping away. This theme returned a lot, especially in Rocket League, a silly but apt little tune about happiness being video games, even at age 29.
Much to my and my friends’ delight, towards the end they played a cover of Lily Allen’s ‘Smile’, which I’m sure the queen of London herself would’ve enjoyed. Well-received is an understatement for the crowd’s reaction to that moment.
From start to finish, their serendipitous crack on stage kept everyone in high spirits. This also came through instrumentally; you never really knew what to expect. From keyboard to clarinet solos and even glimpses of metal in the vocal delivery.
FIZZ are reminiscent of early Queen and Abba in their layered verses, with a nod to the Beatles in the psychedelic-pop vocals. But as far as gigs go, this was a riot. You had to respect the craft and pay attention to the narrative from the setlist. From tear-jerkers like You, Me, Lonely and Close One, to highs like Strawberry Jam and popping-candy-esque bursts of fun, to pure randomness like a closing boogie to Thomas the Tank Engine theme tune.
You can’t deny FIZZ are incredibly talented and a blast to see live. I went expecting feel-good music and got a full-on show, with giant mushrooms, crazy lights and plenty of laughs. Not bad for a Tuesday night!