Lightspeed Champion

May 8 2008 by Gavin Allen, South Wales Echo

The Point, Cardiff Bay

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LIGHTSPEED Champion was so keen to get on stage last night he didn’t even wait for his own slot.

While support act Operator Please were kicking out their highlight, Just A Song About Ping Pong, they were joined by some enthusiastic dancing and cape waving by Dev Hynes, the Lightspeed Champion himself, and his band.

Sporting his trademark furry Davey Crocket headgear, despite the fact it was hotter than hell, and to a rapturous reception, the ex-Test Icicles frontman boldly opened his set with new song Happy Birthday before giving way to the soaring harmonies and string-laden flourish of his standout song, Galaxy Of The Lost.

Having already taken something of a 180-degree turnaround by ditching the nu-rave tag of his previous band, in favour of his current and critically acclaimed folk direction, Hynes is clearly not one to stand still too long.

True to form the next song Marlene (another new one) was propelled by a funky bass line.

Pausing to admire his surroundings, Hynes praised the venue.

And he said that he was definitely going to sign the petition against calls for its closure, to much whooping from the crowd.

Left alone on stage for a moment, he gave us a rendition of the surprisingly heart-warming Everyone I Know Is Listening To Crunk, before his band rejoined him for the finale, an extended No Surprise with a segue from the Star Wars theme.

On a night like this it’s difficult not to agree that this is indeed a very nice venue, and that Dev Hynes is a thoroughly likeable sort of chap.

Paul Wakefield