Delilah Bon

THE CLUNY 2, NEWCASTLE

Whilst the pandemic era curtailed musicians’ ability to tour, it allowed creatives to experiment with their craft. At least, that was the case for Hands Off Gretel’s Lauren Tate. With limited opportunities to perform live, the Yorkshire native took time to reflect as well as push herself musically and artistically. Subsequently, Tate’s latest alter ego Delilah Bon was born.

By her admission, Lauren’s latest project was never intended to be taken on the road. However, the artist’s music, message and debut album struck a chord with her loyal fanbase, and as such, it became clear that the artist’s followers were keen to see a live Delilah Bon show. Fast forward to the present day, and Lauren Tate has taken to the road on her first ever Delilah Bon solo headline tour.

A few days into the artist’s current run Delilah Bon arrived at The Cluny 2 in Newcastle, where a packed-out crowd awaited her. But it was not only the headliner who captivated the Tyneside audience, but a strong undercard featuring Bizarre Fae and the North-East’s own Abi Nyxx delivered high-energy sets and received a great response early in the evening.

The beauty of Tate’s latest project is that it transcends genre. Seamlessly integrating punk, nu-metal, and hip hop with ease. And what’s more, Bon’s lyrics and rhymes have more hooks than a fishing tackle shop. “Homework,” which featured early in the set, was a perfect example of this and proved to be a real earworm.

Delilah Bon has given Lauren a platform to promote safe spaces for women at concerts. And before her performance of “Red Dress,” the artist passionately discussed this subject. With the front row packed with a large congregation of the artist’s female fans, Tate frequently engaged with her audience as she prowled from side to side. Ferocious head banging, hair-flicking bass player Ruena and DJ/Hype Girl Tasmin Taylor completed the live band. Collectively the trio worked so well, particularly during their choreographed dance routines, which occurred throughout the proceedings.

Delilah’s theatrical stage antics set her apart from the rest of the underground scene. The artist’s visual routines included baseball bats during “Clown”, axes throughout “Cannibal Summer,” and even a bubble machine at the start of “Bad Attitude”. Each of these props elevated the passion and intensity of Tate’s performance. The artist’s aesthetically pleasing four-song interlude was one of the highlights of the evening.

The inclusion of “Devil” showcased the breadth of Bon’s repertoire. The song is the perfect example of a rap/metal crossover number. Whilst the versatile artist put her stamp on “Chun Li” by Nicki Minaj. Delilah Bon continued to explore the hip-hop genre with a cover by way of Eminem’s “Godzilla,” during which she changed the words whilst simultaneously showcasing her lyrical prowess and flow.

With the sounds of horror movie soundtracks resonating around the room, the artist left the stage with the audience chanting for one more song. As the old saying goes – ask and you will receive. The band returned to the stage and teased the audience with “I Don’t Listen To You”. When the song is finally performed in full, it is delivered with passion and intensity. Bon concluded her set with the recent single “Dead Men Don’t Rape”.

With her latest project, Lauren Tate continues to break boundaries in many ways. What can we say – with Delilah Bon, you get more than just a gig, you get a show.