Weekly > Reviews
The Music - Leeds Town Hall
The gig tonight is in one of the most under used music venues in Leeds. While I understand it also has to perform its civic functions, it’s criminal that this beautiful (inside) venue isn’t used for more gigs of this nature. It’s the second one I’ve seen here now and the sound is always spot on, the surroundings are impressive and the view is generally pretty good wherever you are.
First up tonight is a band from South Yorkshire who are starting to make waves in the indie scene. Exit Calm are a Barnsley band that don’t stick to the reputation of the people from the area, it’s not all straight up stuff from them as we find when they take to the stage.
The four-piece aren’t what you would expect, they aren’t looking to be the next Arctic Monkeys or Kaiser Chiefs, which in itself is a relief. Instead they’ve set their sights on much grander designs, taking the emotional pull of Radiohead and a vocal performance from Nicky Smith, that in place reminds me of Bono (no really it does).
Throw into the mix some swirling psychedelia and the sonic wall of sound that appears on some tracks and it really is an impressive sound they have. Performance wise I think they’d be better enjoyed in a smaller venue where you could lose yourself in their sound more and the lack of movement on stage would also probably be less noticeable in such intimate surroundings.
A band to watch out for though to see how they develop.
Leeds band The Music are anything but new to this game and they’ve thrown in a string of stunning live performances on their comeback this year already. Tonight though things are a little bit subdued in the crowd and to a degree from the band themselves, despite this being their biggest homecoming show so far.
- The Music
- Leeds Town Hall (2nd July 2008)
- Category: Live
- Label: Polydor Records
- Support: Exit Calm
- Reviewed by: Kev
- Published on: 13 Jul 2008
- Photography by: Evilannie (Flikr)
- Comments: 0
- Beat Surrender Rating:
Weblinks
Add to favouritesThey are of course still entertaining and they are a good live band, the music kicks out from the sound-system tonight and the next day at work I’m still having trouble hearing people clearly. Their live performances though have always been built on energy and a big sound and with new album Strength In Numbers having a more dance orientated sound it comes as no surprise.
Set wise it’s similar to the recent Metropolitan University gig in the city, They open with old classic Take The Long Road And Walk It, follow that up with forthcoming single The Spike and complete the representation for all three albums with Freedom Fighters from Welcome To The North.
The fourth song is my favourite of the night, I love Fire and would be amazed if that doesn’t get a single release. Elsewhere in the set they give us the brilliant oldies of Getaway, The Truth Is No Words and The People as well as rousing versions of Drugs, Strength In Numbers and close with the superb Bleed From Within.
Quite why there is a subdued feeling to what should be a big celebration of the return of a great band is anybody’s guess, sometimes things just work out that way. Either way though you still leave feeling entertained and you’ve seen two good, but very different Yorkshire bands that potentially have a huge twelve months in front of them.
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