Citylightz At Kidderminster’s 45 Live
Uniquely West Midlands
Just after the summer solstice, I made the pilgrimage to Kidderminster. I wasn’t here for the market… It was the calling of a 21st-century Indie/Rap mashup that Is officially known as; Citylightz. Based in nearby Wolverhampton, Citylightz has a working-class Black Country aura about them. They are authentic in who they are, and as musicians are remarkably talented! As a fellow Yam-Yam, it was a delight to see and hear 45 Live’s room get bombarded with familiar accents and raucous rock n roll rap, a sound that is uniquely West Midlands.
In between songs, their on-stage banter and demeanour were entertaining in their own right. Now add in some sound with one foot in Indie with vibes of The Specials, Arctic Monkeys, The Jam and Oasis. And another in a substantial-sized gravy jug of Dizzee Rascal, The Streets, Wiley and Skepta. Citylightz are a prime example of everything great about British culture, their footy-inspired casual swagger and quick-witted interactions with the audience were great to witness. It reminded me that perhaps Great Britain is pretty great after all… at least the tunes anyway!
We need more of this energy!
Good gig pic.twitter.com/4rxwPA3ftE
— Citylightz (@citylightzmusic) June 28, 2024
Their vocalist, B, is a seasoned rapper, and his performance and control on stage were something that stood out immediately. The banter between himself and guitarist Luke was organic and gave me the feeling of being with my pals, it is refreshing to hear a rap style that is down to earth and genuine, which is unfortunately unorthodox amongst some styles of today which can be seen as egotistical in a narcissistic sense. B is a real one with that famous saying of what you see is what you get circling in my mind. Combine that with the archetypal Indie attitude, slightly punk and slightly mod, then you find the region that Citylightz call home.
As a 5-piece, their sound is layered and complex at times, chaotic and brash when needed. Big props to all the band members as they let their unique personalities express themselves through their instruments, with funky/soulful bass grooves, punky-flavoured drum beats and blistering lead guitars. It’s also worth mentioning that the venue provided a perfect space for a boogie, with the neon aesthetics meshing well with the raw Rock n Roll on display. Most definitely take the time to catch up. show here at 45 Live, as well as catch Citylightz at a show near you. We need more of this energy!
Post gig blues.
Blitzing through their set left the eager audience wanting more, so it is a good job their 2024 releases are here to relieve the post-gig blues with singles “I’m the Man” and “#trending” as well as their previous releases, the latter being a reason to delve into their history as their roots stretch back to 2009. All in all, this was a sick night listening to a great band at an awesome venue. I would highly advise anyone to grab some tickets to an upcoming show, you won’t be disappointed. We can’t wait for the next one.
