The Joy Formidable
Welsh rock trio the Joy Formidable are set to appear at the Basement in Columbus on April 4. The group kicked off their North American tour with an appearance at SXSW in mid-March (where they were one of SPIN’s “must hear bands”) that coincided with the release of their first full-length album, The Big Roar. The band is a rock group in every sense of the word with a ferocious assault offset by the shimmering, ethereal vocals of guitarist, Ritzy Bryan. France 24 dubbed Bryan “rock’s new heroine,” and just one listen (and look) will tell you why. The Joy Formidable’s previous eight-song EP, A Balloon Called Moaning, has won them critical praise from a variety of outlets, including NME, who has consistently raved about the band’s style of “grungy pop [that] is sure to win over swathes of converts.” The band’s blend of epic sweep, growling low-end and airy atmospherics creates a propulsive and sometimes anthemic sound that is difficult to categorize, yet oddly effective. At a time when neo-folkies and bedroom auteurs are all the rage, it’s nice to know that someone is still employing sheer power and spectacle.
The Joy Formidable is playing at the Basement, 391 Neil Ave., Columbus on April 4th at 7:00 p.m.
– Christopher Schutte
