Live Review

Not Advised – O2 Islington Academy, London

• 15th Aug 2010

Tonight was Not Advised’s first ever London headline show, yet the Southampton mob had to perform this special occasion one man down. While frontman James Thomas sits at home recovering from a problem with his larynx, (voice box) guitarist Ash Oliver also takes on the role of lead vocals.

Crashing straight into one of their older tracks “Right Now,” it’s surprising to hear just how similar this unique rendition sounds like the original. Oliver attacks the song with so much confidence; you’d think there was no one missing from the line up if you were watching them for the first time. This isn’t to say that James Thomas isn’t an integral part of the band, as his wide vocal range, stage presence and charm is what collates the band together. It’s proving that the band members are a versatile unit, meaning they can adapt and still deliver no matter what.

Songs like “Jane Says Left,” and their latest single “The World’s Not Ready,” saw a great deal of crowd participation as they danced and sung along to every word. Renowned for their huge choruses and addictive pop punk melodies, it begs the question; why haven’t they headlined London sooner?

However, with some of the new material I think Oliver did struggle a little as I feel the band have grown into a more mature sound, and his vocal range doesn’t quite match the breadth of Thomas’. So it’s times like these when you realise how crucial Thomas is to the band. Though, Oliver still attempted it with great strength and individual style.

So even though Not Advised were missing their frontman, they still performed a highly energetic show, making sure you got your money’s worth and there were no disappointed faces in sight.