Celebrating 10 years since their debut album was released, Gengahr delivered a captivating performance at Cardiff's Clwb Ifor Bach, showcasing their evolution as a band through the years as they played their first LP A Dream Outside in its entirety. 

Following an endearing performance by Alice Costelloe, Gengahr took the stage with palpable energy, launching into Dizzy Ghosts, the perfect mood setter with its swooning melodies and expulsive percussion. 

Fan favourites then came thick and fast with Heroine and She's a Witch, both met with enthusiasm from the head bopping crowd, whilst deeper cuts like Embers highlighted their instrumental prowess, particularly with its extended drum intro and soft vocal lead. 

Gengahr’s live performances have always been a different beast compared to their recorded work, and tonight was no exception. Their inaugural material felt grander, more ambitious, with layers of instrumentation that pulsed and swelled in ways that couldn’t be captured on record. With sharp, intricate rhythms that added a deeper urgency to songs, Felix Bushe's vocals - airy yet emotionally raw - acted as a guiding force through the set. His voice, often delicate on record, carried a weight in the live setting that made even the most subtle lyric profound. 

When they slipped into the hauntingly beautiful Powder there was a moment of collective stillness in the crowd, a shared breath held in unison before the song's climax sent a shiver through the room. Their music has always held this guitar swinging nuance to it, and live it truly came to life, quite literally, as John Victor and Felix went back to back with their instruments above their heads in an almost duel-like fashion. 

It’s rare to see a band perform with such fluid cohesion. As their guitar riffs cut through the dreaminess with moments of sheer intensity, the interplay between band members was effortless, a testament to their years of playing together and their evolution as musicians. At times, they let the music take control, expanding their songs with swelling soundscapes that turned into near-transcendental moments. It was in this space that the audience fully surrendered - heads nodding, feet shuffling, eyes closed.

 "That's the end of the album. But not the end of the night" teased Bushe as they began to work through some of their more recent material including a brilliant rendition of Before Sunrise. 

As the night drew to a close, the band took a moment to acknowledge the crowd, visibly moved by the reception as they returned for a 2 track encore following the chant of "one more song" that echoed through the room. 

As the final notes rang and the house lights flickered on, no one rushed to leave. There was an unspoken desire to hold onto the feeling just a little longer, to bottle up the magic as fans rushed to the merch stand to chat to the band. 

From seeing them support Bombay Bicycle Club many years ago, to the present, it's safe to say the band are still very capable of delivering a masterclass in dreamy, immersive indie rock that blurred the lines between delicate melancholy and explosive euphoria.

*****