As the temperature drops and the cold air hits at the back end of September, things are hotting up inside the Engine Rooms, Southampton.

Trampolene are in town, and on their first return to the city since their headline show at the Joiners in October 2023.

The Welsh trio of Jack Jones (Vocals and lead guitar), Kyle “Mr” Williams (Drums) and Wayne Thomas (Bass) have had a quiet couple of years but have recently supported Public Image Ltd and Ocean Colour Scene ahead of this tour with Republica.

As the lights drop, the crowd are met with the usual Simpsons “Trampolene” intro followed by the soundtrack of their hit Gotta Do More Gotta Be More. The trio grace the stage to cheers and applause as the track dies out and Jones takes to the mic. “Good evening, Southampton. How are we?”

Before he could add anything else the venue shakes as Thomas plays his first notes on the bass, and the band rip straight into Sort Me Out. Joined on stage by Lee Thomas, Wayne’s brother, tonight, this allows Jones more freedom to be the charismatic frontman he is known as.

As this indie pop anthem comes to a close, the distressed scratch that is the opening riff to ‘You Do Nothing for Me’ begins and the crowd are bouncing at the change of pace.

 Before you know it, the pace of the evening has changed again, but this time it’s for the figurative ballad ‘Money’. Ever the showman, Jones is at the barrier almost in with the fans as his lyrics detail the financial anxiety that can encase your existence.

The next song, from their 2021 album ‘Love No Less Than a Queen’, is the poetic ‘No Love No Kisses’. As Williams and Thomas take control of the rhythm section, Jones glides from one side of the stage to the other, and back again. He encourages the crowd to join in with the chorus, to which they duly oblige.

Next up is ‘Thinking Again’, from 2023s album ‘Rules of Love and War’. The ever-energetic frontman has picked up his guitar once more and strums through the opening riffs, as Williams’ drumbeat can be felt rising and rising until they all reach the crescendo of the chorus and Jones encourages the crowd to “Come on”. The energy in the room hasn’t died yet and he can sense it.

As ever with Trampolene, you twist through melodic changes. Jumping between big rock anthems and spoken words that calls out the world’s wrongs. Tonight was no different as Jones ditches the guitar once more and stands above the crowd. Williams and Thomas join on backing vocals to cover Peter Doherty’s part from the studio track.

Now for the big finale, Jones tries some new comedy material on the crowd, which falls flat, and Mr Williams spares his blushes with the rattling drum intro to ‘Alcohol Kiss’.

This is the first song Jones ever wrote and the one the crowd loves the most. Everything in the room comes together as the Thomas brothers battle through their guitar parts and Jack Jones commands the attention of all eyes in the room.

 He still has a sense of the chaotic side about him, attempting to throw his shoes into the crowd, rolling around on the floor and completing the final riff with his teeth!

Cheers and applause reverberate around the crowd as the feedback peters out. No Trampolene gig is complete without a Mr Williams cartwheel, and he delivers.

Now the crowd is warm, now they’re ‘ready to go’ wild for Republica.

Review by photography by Bradley Halcrow for The Songbird HQ