Delilah Bon, Tillie
The Key Club, Leeds
15/11/2024
Welcome to the Tillieverse! A place where women are free from sexual harassment and violence, a place where God punishes perpetrators of domestic abuse fatally. Highlighting dissociative behaviour and turning it into a force for good by creating her own world shared on stage for all is pretty genius by Tillie. She shares stories that have shaped her in this reality through characters in another. It’s escapism that hits home hard. Through song people, and that’s mainly young women, in the audience are made to feel like they are understood and not alone. Clearly as an opening act for Delilah Bon the message is right on point. There’s more though. The pop/alt rock writing is well sorted and Tillie herself has an exceptional voice. Clean, clear and powerful she could grace any sized stage. Backed by a superbly talented drummer this is a fantastic set to kick off the evening.
The Key club is sold out tonight. The entire Delilah Bon tour is in fact sold out. So you have to wonder how many more opportunities there will be to see this phenomenal artist in one of these intimate venues. It can’t be long before the Academies and larger start to beckon. From first note to last this is a well honed performance from everyone on stage. The use of a live drummer only enhances the performance and this guy shines. Hela adds balance to the songs and choreography. When the spotlight is on her she is engaging and fun. Ruena rocks that bass guitar like no other, and adds the perfect interaction with Hela keeping all of the stage well and truly bouncing. And then of course there’s Delilah, centre stage, and never sounding better. Bon is mesmeric with a huge presence that fills the room. The mood is party like, a celebration, even if the lyrics are so deadly serious. There are some very young fans in absorbing every moment, some with parents also loving the show. To enable young women to stand up and be themselves, to stand together to demand change is a mighty powerful gift. And Delilah Bon you feel has only just got started.
Review and photos by Gary Trueman