An eventful year for the rising Bristol band came to an end on Friday as the final set of 2011 was played out, marking the occasion with a near-entirely new collection of tracks that hinted towards further evolution in 2012.
After supporting Bon Jovi at the Ashton Gate stadium in Bristol and playing the esteemed Ronnie Scott’s club, the location for this event seemed a fairly modest one in comparison. The ambition displayed by the band in their set were not quite reflected in the production values, with the relatively small size of the venue meaning that tracks including Running out of Love were not lent the power and scale afforded to them.
That said there was a track that suited the confined space more than others. Lion’s Den, billed as a potential next single, introduced a refreshing twist of urban rhythms into the established pop-rock melodies, and was a track you could imagine hearing in any musical medium. Its place near the end of the set following on from a pure rock line-up accentuated these qualities, and its inventiveness will surely be demonstrated indefinitely within live plays.
While ROOL proved the highlight of the Ronnie Scott’s gig, Lion’s Den encapsulated the progress Goldtrip have made this year. The key to the next year may be to continue demonstrating versatility across the music spectrum. The way in which the song stood out and grasped the audience represented the biggest positive from the night. Needless to say it would sit comfortably alongside established hits in a Radio 1 set list, and may prove to be the spearhead in successfully capturing a major record label.
The perpetual buzz from the equipment made Dom Little’s normally clear vocals sound muffled on occasion, while the sound from the instruments often fused together to give an unwanted blunted sound. However this was overcome on the whole by the band’s showmanship, in particular Dom who zipped about like a Duracell man. This connection with audiences has seen Goldtrip become a live favourite.
Goldtrip must seek larger venues and supporting gigs for high-profile acts, with the collaboration of a major record label key to ensuring this. With some more EPs and a debut album under their belt they may be close to the coveted Radio One playlist within months. Equally important is the bond with fans and while the band have achieved this, a challenge will be to maintain this throughout the band’s growth phase. Without a doubt 2012 will be a key year.
