Scouting For Girls are in the middle of their 15th-anniversary tour, and Friday night saw them pack a sold-out Shepherd’s Bush Empire for their last London date of the year.
The music started early, with two support acts Charlie Starmer-Smith and Daniel McCarthy. Both were joined by backing bands and warmed up the crowd with sets of originals and a couple of covers.
Charlie Starmer-Smith’s cover of Coldplay’s “Fix You” was sublime. Daniel McCarthy’s short pop-tinged songs went down well, and included a – perhaps ill-advised – cover of McFly’s “It’s All About You”.
Scouting For Girls arrived on a smoke-filled stage to the James Bond theme before launching into the song of the same name. Vocalist Roy Stride waved his selfie-stick over the audience and lapped up the fact that they knew every word and sang along.
“We’re going to play loads from our first album” he announced before they gave the Shepherd’s Bush faithful what they wanted. “Its Not About You”, “Michaela” and “Posh Girls” to name but three.
The encore saw them play “Christmas In The Air (Tonight)” in Christmas jumpers whilst spraying the delighted crowd with foam, before reminding me of my childhood and finishing with everyone’s favourite “She’s So Lovely”.
“This is already the best night of the tour!” Claimed Roy Stride after only three songs, and judging by the audience reaction it’s not difficult to see why.
