Live Review: Coco And The Butterfields at Prema Arts Centre, Uley, Gloucestershire

Live Review: Coco And The Butterfields at Prema Arts Centre, Uley, Gloucestershire 25^th April 2015

 

Prema, an Arts Centre situated in rural Gloucestershire, is the setting for Canterbury five-piece Coco And The Butterfields’ second date of their Say Hello Tour. The venue, a formal Baptist Chapel, is currently undergoing renovation. Despite the scaffolding on the outside encasing its Cotswold Stone beauty, the inside has the right mix of quirkiness and warmth. On the top floor wooden beams stretch over the high ceiling, artwork adorns the walls, and the low hum of voices from the popular Prema Arts Café drifts up the stairs.

The age range of tonight’s audience is as diverse as the band's sound: an indicator that Coco And The Butterfields appeal to both the age-old folkie and the younger listener wanting a more contemporary sound.  

The band approach the stage from the back of the room to moderate applause, perhaps the audience is not entirely sure what they are in for. Singer and guitarist Tom Twyman immediately answers that question by simply saying, “this is what we’re all about”, before launching into a cover of Gym Class Heroes’ Cupid’s Chokehold. It is a rousing performance and certainly warms up the crowd.  At the end of the song Tom admits they have played the whole song without the mic on the guitar being turned on; the band plays the chorus once again, this time with the guitar.

They go on to play a selection of covers and original songs selected from four EPs, not bad for a group which have only been together since 2011. The first original song of the evening, Walls, begins by the band saying that “we aren’t really used to seated venues, so for the next one we need to sway in your seats”. No instruction was really needed because the song alone is enough to get the audience moving to the irresistible beat.

If the audience aren’t won over already, an incredible version of Nina Simone’s Feeling Good  which is familiar to both old and young; showcases Dulcima Showan’s soulful, powerful vocals and proving that any genre of music holds no bounds.

An anecdote about the nursery rhyme Jack & Jill segways into the closing performance of the first half, a mash-up of Flo Rida’s Low and Jay Z’s Encore, with band members shimmying down on stage as they play: a band not afraid to really let go and let their fun-loving personalities come through. However, as with all of the evening’s hip hop covers, older members of the audience may not be familiar with the original songs and therefore not fully appreciative of the re-working.

Two songs into the second half Tom makes the announcement that Dulcima is recovering from bronchitis. If this is how she is when she is ill it is astonishing to think what she is like with full vocal power. The next song, a relatively new addition to the set, is Britney Spears’ Toxic. Once again vocally and instrumentally, particularly the violin’s glissando, not only recreate but enhance the original version.

New song Hello is a beam of sunshine: a loop pedal replicates Dulcima’s voice; it echoes around the room, radiating in its beauty and creating an undeniably joyous reaction.

Three songs before the end the audience members who have been dancing at the side of the room are invited to dance in front of the band. Warriors seems to be the most well known song; the audience instantly joins in with its anthemic sing-along chorus. With the dancing now at the front the atmosphere changes to reflect the vibrancy which the band has been emitting all along: an indication of what the band could be capable of at a larger, outdoor venue. Hip Hop Song maintains this energy. The theme from The Fresh Prince Of Bel Air follows before the Hip Hop Song is reprised to rapturous applause.

As the band draw the night to a close each has a chance to perform individually to show off what they can do. BeatBoxer Jamie showcases his incredible talent with his voice-box-of-tricks, a highlight of this section. The audience cries out for more and the band happily agree with House of Pain’s Jump Around, encouraging everyone to get to their feet for the last thirty seconds, most are happy to oblige.

All in all Coco And The Butterfields are a fascinating spectacle. Their style, attitude and music was well matched to Prema but their extrovertiveness is probably best suited to an outdoor or festival stage. Their set is slightly reliant on covers; although innovatively inspired, it is their original songs that are of an equally, if not better standard and should have more pride of place in what they do. The diverse equation of Banjo and BeatBox shouldn’t work, but it does: it is a winning formula. Future audiences will want more than to just Say Hello; they will greet Coco And The Butterfields with wide smiles and open arms, time after time.

8/10  

Set List

• Cupid’s Chokehold (Gym Class Heroes Cover)
• Walls
• Astronauts
• Feeling Good (Nina Simone Cover)
• Five Bells
• Low/Encore (Flo Rida/Jay Z Cover)

Interval

• Instrumental
• Shadows
• Toxic (Britney Spears Cover)
• Hello
• Hard Knock Life (Jay Z Cover)
• Mother
• Warriors
• Hip Hop Song
• Fresh Prince Of Bel Air (Will Smith Cover)
• Hip Hop Song Reprise

Encore

• Jump Around (House of Pain Cover)