If there was ever any proof that Eurovision isn't just full of cheesy one-hit wonders in crazy costumes, then last night's gig at Bristol's O2 Academy was just that. Former Eurovision act Daði Freyr performed to a packed venue full of gig-goers of all ages - many of which knew even all the Icelandic words to his songs.
For those of you unfamiliar with his work, Daði Freyr is a 29-year-old (soon to be 30) musician from Reykjavik in Iceland, currently living in Berlin who, as the frontman of 'Daði & Gagnamagnið', was due to represent Iceland in the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest with the bookies favourite to win that year - a song called 'Think About Things'. When the event was cancelled because of Covid-19, the group came back to represent Iceland in the 2021 competition, with the song '10 Years', finishing in fourth place.
During his time on Eurovision, he and his band became well-known not just for the catchiness of their tunes and their dance moves, but also because of the green jumpers adorned with cartoon versions of their faces - which you could even buy at last night's gig. But, on stage during their performance in Bristol Daði - along with his percussionist and guitarist rather than the larger crowd we saw during the European singing competition - is simply dressed in black, though at a little under seven feet tall he is still a massive presence on stage.
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And from one massive gig presence to another, just after the encore - and just before Daði begins to play a sweet solo acoustic version of another Eurovision classic ('Save Your Kisses for Me' by Brotherhood of Man, which won the 1976 competition) he gives a shout out to a Bristol 'legend' who couldn't make it to the show. Jeffrey Johns, better known to Bristolians (and surprisingly Daði himself) as 'Big Jeff' was supposed to be in attendance at this Bristol gig, but is currently undergoing treatment at a specialist burns unit in Swansea after being injured in a fire at his home in Totterdown.
If you yourself are a regular gig-goer in Bristol, then you will no doubt have seen 'Bristol's most famous gig-goer', Jeff, in the crowd - he's usually stood near the front, that mane of hair swaying as he moves his head along with the music or even stood still and drawing what he sees on stage as it happens. And acts who come to perform in the city will feel an extra sense of achievement to know that the Bristol legend has come to see them.
Daði Freyr certainly did during last night's show, dedicating his acoustic performance to the man he called a 'legend' and telling the crowd how Jeff had been to see he and his band perform before. The crowd gave an almighty roar at the mention of Big Jeff's name and it was obvious that, while the man himself couldn't be there in person, he was definitely missed and being thought of.
Other highlights from last night's show included the Eurovision songs everyone had come to see, a hilarious song telling people to 'shut up' and Daði jokingly warning fans not to even think about mentioning the song 'Ja Ja Ding Dong' from Netflix's Eurovision film 'Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga'. But that wasn't all, in addition to Daði's quick-witted humour, hilarious exchanges with the crowd and, of course, extremely talented musical skills, he and his band treated us Bristolians to drum and bass versions of Smash Mouth's 'All Star' as well as 'The Birdie Song' - you know, the one every child has danced to at a disco or birthday party.
All in all it was a great gig - and we're sure Big Jeff would be very proud.
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