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Liberty Ex

15th June 2007

Liberty X was the opening headlining act at this year's summer ball and came on stage to a mixture of boos and cheers.

The band that stemmed from that wonderful Saturday night entertainment show 'Popstars' were one of the main acts to strut themselves across the stage and bravely attempt to win over the crowd; brave especially when you consider that they've already officially split up and their music is suited more to seven years girls rather than a crowd of slightly sober students.

Despite this they started their set with the aptly named A Night to Remember yet sadly it possibly wasn't for good reasons that their performance was so memorable. It seemed that they had lost all enthusiasm for their up-beat pop songs, including the dance routines, which were sketchy to say the least. The real low however, was stopping their set half way through because one of the band members didn't have a microphone that worked, although not their fault it did put a dampener on the crowds spirits, who up to then were seemingly enjoying their dose of cheese.

After that small hurdle they seemed to get back into the swing of things, though all of them were still lacking in any sense of eagerness and were perhaps too casual in their style. In true Swansea tradition the heavens opened, and the umbrellas came out, sections of the crowd remained supportive of the pop band, whilst others booed and even threw bottles at the stage.

Taking it down a level Liberty X played Holding on to You, a slow ballad which would be more suited to a room lit with candles in which you were attempting to seduce a member of the opposite sex; it certainly had no place booming out across a muddy field to an audience of students who were already beginning to waver in their liking for the pop band. To cap it off the bass was far too high, thus meaning that the words were barely decipherable, this song was definitely not a high light.

Being Nobody was the best part of the set, using canes as dance props the group clearly knew the routines unlike earlier in their performance, and the response from the crowd was one of appreciation.

This was Liberty X's 7th from last gig till they will officially part ways, and although I'm sure there will be sadden fans out there, I for one will not be mourning the loss of another British television show band. Liberty X's parting advice for the crowd was "get drunk and get laid," sounds like a plan.

Dawn Lewis