"We really don't come here enough" Tom Faithfull exclaimed as The Royston Club took to Cardiff's Tramshed. With the Wrexham-based outfit on Welsh soil, it was always set to be a rampant affair, but little prepared the excited fans for what was in store as they kicked off their 6 night sold-out run with a show to remember, bringing that Friday feeling a day early.

With a triumphant display of their indie rock prowess, cementing their place as one of the most exciting acts on the scene, the band wasted no time in getting things moving. As they swaggered on to the stage, the North-Wales outfit exuded confidence, opening with tracks like Blisters and The Patch Where Nothing Grows. The crowd, an eclectic mix of long-time fans young and old, erupted in cheers as they jumped front to back just two songs in. 

Working their way through their euphoric set-list, each track was a masterclass in their dynamic sound, showcasing punchy riffs, heartfelt lyrics, and the charismatic vocals of frontman Faithfull which readily sparked enthusiastic singalongs throughout. 

With an already burgeoning discography, the band's newer tracks hinted at an ever evolving sound, suggesting that The Royston Club are far from peaking creatively as they shared a selection of live debuts as the crowd lapped it up. There was also time for an anthemic unreleased single filled with sprawling melodies, alongside a magnetic cover of Pulp's Disco 2000.

From 52's explosive guitar fuelled choruses, to the unmistaken riffs and huge crowd eruption on Mrs Narcissistic as fans readily swayed and arms and bodies collided, the band's tight musicianship and their ability to capture the spirit of the room meant the energy inside remained electric from the first to the very last notes. It's nice to see them not participate in the outdated and cliche encore too as they packed in even more tracks to their ecstatic performance.

With their innate ability to turn a mid-sized venue like Tramshed into a vibrant celebration that saw the roof raised spoke volumes about their potential to scale even greater heights. And if this performance was anything to go by, their future holds a promise for big endeavours.

Be sure to catch the band at these semi-intimate venues whilst you still have the chance as their performances continue to masterfully blend nostalgic echoes of indie with the invigorating energy and originality of a new generation.

*****