Live Review

L Devine gets ready to usher in a whole new era at Newcastle’s The Grove

It’s been a while since L Devine has ventured out for a run of headline shows - we’ve seen intimate local dates, support slots and festival sets, but the last time Liv went on a tour of her own, it was filled with the self-affirming tones of tracks like ‘Priorities’, ‘Girls Like Sex’ and ‘Naked Alone’. Ditching old hits for a set consisting almost entirely of material from her upcoming album, Devine is peachy keen to turn the page into a new era.

Words:Finlay Holden

Photos:Finlay Holden

Where this might result in a silent, stunned audience for some artists, the crowd tonight are overwhelmingly supportive of this significant homecoming moment; for those who have followed closely, the words of unreleased songs are already forming on lips through the run of ‘Eaten Alive’, ‘If I Don’t Laugh I’ll Cry’ and ‘Laundry Day’.

Treating the crowd to some deeper cuts from 2018’s ‘Peer Pressure’ EP, it’s interesting to observe which tracks Liv chooses to align herself with. Not always choosing the most obvious direction but the one that feels most authentic to her, she looks comfortable amongst the humidity of a sold-out crowd and doesn’t hold back from throwing herself around the stage.

From gripping the mic with both hands, vibing on a synth pad, and switching between acoustic and electric guitars, L Devine has matured into a well-equipped focal point - with co-producer Julien Flew backing her up along with two extra live additions, the less pop-tinged aspects of her back catalogue really shine through.

Upcoming release ‘Miscommunikaty’ explores “feeling disconnected in an over-connected world”, while the explosive chorus of ‘Hater’ raises the thematic and literal heat to new levels. These ferocious moments are balanced against the solo ballad of ‘Daughter’ and a proper arm-swayer in the shape of ‘Slippin Away’.

Concluding the “best show we’ve ever done” with a belting and animated rendition of current single ‘Push It Down’, there's both internal and external confidence in these new songs and the new era for L Devine they reveal. A moody, reflective and revitalising vision is not presented as an uncomfortable first step into a new identity, but instead cements a reassured trajectory set to unfold in the imminent future.

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