Sub Focus/Pendulum- Plymouth Pavilions 30th May
Much like Pendulum’s famous artwork, Plymouth Pavilions circular structure is wrapped in concentric circles of fans as we approach. Rockers, mods, emos, chavs and hardcore ravers fill the scene, strange how Pendulum bring together such a mix of ordinarily segregated people.
Inside the Pavilions, Sub Focus’s light circle is ready to go, the crowd antsy and sweating from the first opening of the door. Cider is already being flung and there isn’t even any background music yet, someone is at their first gig. Some sound checking, chanting and the obligatory throwing of an inflated condom later and bass kicks in. Instantly attention is drawn forwards, lights, cameras, attraction.
Moshing, jumping, headbanging, glow sticking throwing and the typical war cries of the social groups ensue, a melting pot of music appreciation, yet everyone’s hands are in the air, exactly the same. Sub Focus start and end with mega hit ‘Could This Be Real’, which sends the masses mad, the floor pumping with the same energy as everyone’s eardrums.

Sub Focus light circle
We’ve gone from a few rows from the back, to second row from the barrier, a mix of determination, sheer force and crowd movement. In front of us a guy in a full body wetsuit gives up and leaves, and the stage is in full view.
Pendulum bound on and blast out classics like ‘Blood Sugar’ and ‘Propane Nightmares’, the crowd merge into one sweating mass, one huge entity. New tracks from ‘Immersion’ are introduced and cause hysteria, ‘Plymouth you’re fucking mental!’ It’s synth, it’s bass and at some points it’s even down-tempo, but the pace isn’t stopping the madness. Pendulum’s relentless D&B sound is impossible to ignore, it’s gripping every blood filled body in the place.
There’s no encore, just an ending. Newest release ‘Watercolour’ resounds around the arena, ‘when I’m falling down, will you pick me up again?’ The crowd’s all in, all singing, all moving, waiting for the chorus to kick in, waiting to lose it.
It’s clear as the fans disperse, soaked in sweat, arms still in the air that Pendulum haven’t lost it. Three albums in, their unique drum and bass meets metal fusion still feels as fresh as the first time you ever heard it.