LIVE: Picture This @ Electric Ballroom, Camden

by | May 22, 2017

If there is one band you should be going to see this year, it could be an Irish duo with a sold out UK and Ireland tour who have already established a large fan base even before they “drop” their debut album, Who this? Picture This.

Ryan Hennessy (Vocals/Guitar) - Picture This @ Electric Ballroom Camden, 2017 (Edyta Krzesak)

Ryan Hennessy (Vocals/Guitar) – Picture This @ Electric Ballroom Camden, 2017 (Edyta Krzesak)

If you have never heard of them it could be  because you are not following the latest trends on YouTube or Spotify. Or put another way you are not up with the kids. In a world where everything is easy to reach, simple to find and share, then bands like Picture This don’t need to have the backing of big labels to stand behind and promote their music because they can do it themselves.

Cliff Deane (Bass) - Picture This @ Electric Ballroom Camden, 2017 (Edyta Krzesak)

Cliff Deane (Bass) – Picture This @ Electric Ballroom Camden, 2017 (Edyta Krzesak)

The duo from Athy in the Republic of  Ireland  Jimmy Rainsford on drums and Ryan Hennessey, vocals and guitar, first caught the world’s attention in 2015 when an iPhone video of their very first composition Take My Hand went viral.  The story about endless love, dressed in acoustic guitars, and spiced up by game-changing drums generated 2 million-plus Spotify streams and over 2.4 million YouTube views. In 2016 the group’s independent self-titled EP took the internet by storm. They even surprised a couple on their wedding day by popping up and doing a live rendition at their reception.

Ryan Hennessy (Vocals/Guitar) - Picture This @ Electric Ballroom Camden, 2017 (Edyta Krzesak)

Ryan Hennessy (Vocals/Guitar) – Picture This @ Electric Ballroom Camden, 2017 (Edyta Krzesak)

Fast forward a year and they’re back with new material for their debut album, recorded in Nashville and ready to be released later this summer. Kicking off 2017, the boys won Best Music Act at the 2017 Gossies in Ireland and landed a deal with Island Records.

Ryan Hennessy (Vocals/Guitar) - Picture This @ Electric Ballroom Camden, 2017 (Edyta Krzesak)

Ryan Hennessy (Vocals/Guitar) – Picture This @ Electric Ballroom Camden, 2017 (Edyta Krzesak)

Following the release of their new single  Never Change, the show at Electric Ballroom in Camden was part of a sold out UK and Ireland 2017 tour. Heavily loaded with young fans the venue was filled with “emotional” excitement, the waiting over and Ryan and Jimmy take to the stage and the crowd of millennials and teens swoon.

Ryan Hennessy (Vocals/Guitar) - Picture This @ Electric Ballroom Camden, 2017 (Edyta Krzesak)

Swooning at Picture This @ Electric Ballroom Camden, 2017 (Edyta Krzesak)

Joined on stage by their lifelong friends Cliff Deane (Bass) and Owen Cardiff (Guitar) Picture This put on a “hell of a show”.  This average size Camden club feeling and sounding  like Wembley Arena. The band mixed their own material with casual talk making the audience part of their story and performance. Laughs and sing-a-longs were shared and the debut tune Take My Hand was sung by every member of the audience and led to endless ovations.

Ryan Hennessy (Vocals/Guitar) - Picture This @ Electric Ballroom Camden, 2017 (Edyta Krzesak)

Ryan Hennessy (Vocals/Guitar) – Picture This @ Electric Ballroom Camden, 2017 (Edyta Krzesak)

If you haven’t secured a ticket for this tour there is still a chance to see them live. This summer they will be playing at various festivals including London’s Citadel Festival, Reading and Leeds and Belsonic. They are ultra fun!

Ryan Hennessy (Vocals/Guitar) - Picture This @ Electric Ballroom Camden, 2017 (Edyta Krzesak)

Ryan Hennessy (Vocals/Guitar) – Picture This @ Electric Ballroom Camden, 2017 (Edyta Krzesak)

The opening act for Picture This at Camden’s Electric Ballroom was an enigmatic singer and songwriter THØSS. The artist made few jokes about his last minute arranged performance, claiming he got a phone call shortly before the gig, inviting him to play.  THOSS bought a simple and honest performance. A man and his guitar. Stripped down to emotions. He is definitely a dark horse and surely the world would be hearing much more from him.

Picture This live at Electric Ballroom, Camden, 18th May 2017
Photography and review by Edyta K

Sofia Isella @ Roundhouse (Kalpesh Patel)

Sofia Isella Captivates London’s Roundhouse On Emotional Tour Finale

Sofia Isella arrives at the Roundhouse like a storm she can barely contain. Emerging from the shadows, backed by ominous electronic textures and silhouettes, she immediately cuts a striking figure. She paces furiously across the stage, hair hanging over her face, constantly tugging at her oversized clothes as though caught between wanting to tear them off and feeling trapped inside them. Her fingers are haphazardly bound with elastic bands, while her face and arms are purposely dirtied. It’s uncomfortable, theatrical and utterly compelling. 

Jamie Grey (Press)

Jamie Grey Finds Beauty In Uncertainty On New Single ‘Feather’

Rising singer-songwriter Jamie Grey continues his impressive ascent with the release of his heartfelt new single, Feather, a track that balances infectious summer-ready melodies with deeply personal reflections on life’s uncertainties.

Fantastic Negrito (Roberta Paolucci)

Fantastic Negrito Asks ‘How Long?’ On Powerful New Live Single Ahead Of Upcoming Album ‘Alive!’

Three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning visionary Fantastic Negrito has unveiled his latest single, How Long?, a stirring live recording taken from his forthcoming live album Fantastic Negrito Alive!, set for release on 17th July via Storefront Records.

Lainey Wilson (Cece Dawson)

Lainey Wilson Teams Up With John Mayer For New Single ‘Phone, Keys, Wallet’

Country music powerhouse Lainey Wilson continues her remarkable run of success with the release of her brand-new single Phone, Keys, Wallet, a heartfelt and spirited collaboration featuring acclaimed guitarist and singer-songwriter John Mayer.

DOUR (Press)

DOUR Confront Modern Isolation On Powerful New Single ‘Towers’ Ahead Of Debut Album ‘AGORA’

Vancouver post-punk newcomers DOUR continue to build anticipation for their forthcoming debut album AGORA with the release of its striking second single, Towers, a brooding and thought-provoking exploration of modern isolation and self-imposed confinement.

Corella (Charles Agall)

Corella Turn Up The Heat With Explosive New Single ‘Bitter End’ Ahead Of Second Album ‘A Beautiful World To Lose’

Manchester indie-rock favourites Corella have unveiled their blistering new single Bitter End, the latest preview of their eagerly anticipated second album A Beautiful World To Lose, due for release on 18th September via FLG.

Citizen (Atiba Jefferson)

Citizen Unveil Expansive New Single ‘Halcyon Blues’ Ahead Of New Album And UK Tour

Ohio rock favourites Citizen have shared the title track from their forthcoming album Halcyon Blues, offering another glimpse into what promises to be one of the band’s most ambitious and emotionally resonant records to date.

Wealthy Women (Nate King)

Wealthy Women Confront War, Politics And Modern Disillusionment On Powerful New Single ‘Men Of The West’

San Francisco trio Wealthy Women have unveiled their latest single, Men Of The West, the third track to be shared from their forthcoming debut album Children, set for release on 7th August via producer Scott Evans’ Antisleep Audio.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing