Razorlight returned to the Camden venue where they first played nearly 25 years ago for a stripped-back performance on Wednesday night. Johnny Borrell and Andy Burrows took to the stage at London's Barfly ahead of the band's forthcoming UK tour, which will see the classic line-up perform their self-titled album in full.
The show also spotlighted the venue as Radio X's X-Posure Live returns there as a monthly event.
Setlist and Atmosphere
The stripped-back set included hits such as America, In The Morning and Before I Fall To Pieces, alongside crowd-pleasers from the first album era including Stumble And Fall and fan-favourite deep cut Don't Go Back To Dalston.
Despite the intimate setting, the pair brought arena energy to the tiny room, working through requests from the crowd and unfazed by slight technical issues at the beginning.
Borrell on Small Venues
Speaking to Radio X's John Kennedy after the show, Borrell admitted he never expected to be playing to rooms any bigger than the Barfly. He said: "That was just a fantasy. When I formed Razorlight, it was the idea of doing exactly this; putting on a show that was fun and wasn't dragging, and wasn't boring."
Light-heartedly treating the evening as a warm-up for their upcoming Wembley show, the duo called out "Thank you, Wembley!" and encouraged the audience to clap in unison. Borrell added: "I approach every show exactly the same, whether I’m in a small room like this, or a big place, and I never know what’s going to happen."
Favourite Show of the Year
Borrell told Kennedy: "Honestly, thank you guys; that was an incredibly beautiful reception. That was my favourite show of the year so far." He wore his famous white trousers for the occasion, explaining they had been found in his attic and recently resewn after a wardrobe malfunction.
Razorlight's UK tour begins in Glasgow on November 26, with the classic line-up performing their self-titled album in its entirety. A headline show at London's OVO Arena Wembley is scheduled for December 4. Tickets are available at razorlightofficial.com.
