Elles Bailey Oxford Academy 28-9-24
Due to the vagaries of the roads and parking around the O2 in Cowley I walked in late to a packed room and Demi Marriner just finishing her last acoustic song and from the reaction she went down very well.
Luckily for me Demi is also part of Elles band and her acoustic guitar playing and excellent back up vocals showed off her talent and during Sunshine City she acapella's vocally like her life depends on it and left us all mind blown.
Elles Bailey comes to Oxford as part of her Beneath The Neon Glow Tour and with the album charting in the UK at number 12 the large Saturday night crowd are ready.
Elles and her band Joe Wilkins on guitar, Matthew Waer on bass, James Graham on keys, Demi Marriner on acoustic guitar and back up vocals and Garry Kroll on drums deliver across the 90 minute set.
Beyond The Neon Glow is played in full with all 10 tracks in attendance but sprinkled across the 15 song set rather than in one batch.
Enjoy The Ride is a great opener with Elles voice rich full and melodic and the band hit the groove immediately and the crowd know every word before second single Leave The Light On take us even higher with Joe Wilkins who has already impressed on slide guitar now having the chance in the song outro to show us his guitar soloing skills which he does in abundance.
Ballad Of A Broken Dream takes it down a notch and sees Elles at the keys alongside James and her vocal melody soars with Demi backing it all up superbly.
1972 sees the band funk it up with the crowd singing back the chorus heartily and shows the albums diversity and how Elles can handle all forms of blues, soul and funk in her stride.
Silhouette In A Sunset sees Joe strumming acoustically and Elles vocal is heartfelt and shows her emotion in every word and we can all relate to the lyrics as we are taken on an emotional journey all in 5 minutes leaving us breathless.
We then jump back to the Road I Call Home album with fan voted favourites in Hell Or High Water and Medicine Man both being greeted like long lost friends.
Back to BTNG and Love Yourself sees the band get into the groove in the mid song breakdown as Elles accapellas with James on keys impressing with Hammond fills.
Truth Ain't Gonna Save Us sees the pace increase with Elles showing held notes poise with Demi on backing vocals filling in any gaps and Joe again guitar soloing with finesse.
Let It Burn that was co written with Katey Brooks is a show stopper. Elles showing off her emotional side and a great Joe slide guitar solo adding to the elegance with Demi's backing vocals pitch perfect. Beautiful.
If This Is Love has a funky groove and mid song pace increase and Joe on keys adding extra depth to the band workout.
The back catalogue is then played again The Game and Riding Out The Storm finishing the set in style and we all are desperate for more.
Turn Off The News has Elles vocal full of emotion and we hang on her every word as the superb ballad sees the last of the album played to huge applause.
After what had felt like the wettest week ever Elles take us to Sunshine City to end the evening on a high and Joe plays another slide guitar solo during the mid song breakdown alongside Demi and her vocal acrobatics. Fantastic.
Every song from Beneath The Neon Glow work superbly in the live arena and show a depth and maturity in the song writing and playing that have take Elles to another level.
With live dates through till December across the UK and now with more dates added into the spring of 2025 do yourself a favour and go and see one of the UK's brightest talents and her fantastic band as soon as possible.
