The Maccabees, 21st January. Sheffield Leadmill.
2006…Art students in Indie band great album shocker
2012..Indie band 3rd album hype and potential arena fillers shocker?!
So how on earth did the Maccabees get to this status in 6 years…they only write about wave machines I hear you fans bemoaning! If the ever so criticising music critics had their way they’d of probably dismissed superb 3rd album “Given to the Wild” as some sort of a super soph-sophomore attempt, as was the rage in labelling any 2nd album as sophomore during the early 2010’s (such an American term in my eyes).
These days people are further falling head over heels in love with them (if this is even possible) and rightly so. Fulham are printing shirts for Felix, lead singer Orlando is suddenly on the phone to Australia, the band are rubbing shoulders with Adele at the top of the Album chart; what next…playing a gig on top of some skyscraper in Dubai? Good heavens!
Leadmill Lovelies
Back to reality then. A windy night in Sheffield sees the former art students return to touring at Sheffield’s and the UK’s best live music venue, Leadmill. Starting their set with their backs firmly turned to the frothing audience, they pick, pluck and proceed to whip up a whirlwind of sound which subtly crashes down into ‘Child’ with the band visibly nervous as they find their presence on stage once again. I use subtly…as there’s no instant riff a la the norm for Indie bands, but a new sophisticated, measured approach which then erupts half way through as the climax of the opener draws nearer, which is soon decimated by the short solo reminding the crowd that this is indeed still the same band who wrote ‘Latchmere’ (which was to the dismay of gathered, not given an airing_
Their live sound is well balanced with Week’s shy standing and ushered vocals and there is an assurance and confidence portrayed through the new songs which add an extra dimension to the set, it is this dimension, maturity that is making tipsters left right and centre moist in areas unmentionable.
‘First Love’ is gently rattled out with its delicate sound of hope and young love, followed by the rolling bass of Can You Give It? and then shouts of taking our Precious Time about things, at this point, precious time isn’t really on our minds as we adoringly relay word for word back at the band. They follow this by ‘Forever I’ve Known”: this highlight sits perfectly mid set, patient and sinister – intriguingly keeping the crowd on their toes before the White guitarists and brothers turn on the blender, whisking up an explosive clash of sound to leave the crowd wondering what next? Well, how about No Kind Words, the running order certainly works well, new sitting alongside old and testament to the strength the Brighton lads now have in their back catalogue.
With ‘Given to the Wild’ there seems an anger, a direction, a meaning, an aim for the band to try and achieve. “Pelican”, sure to be a new fan favourite rallies “…to have it all, and still want more” – more is definitely on the horizon, but I’m not convinced that they will seamlessly transfer across into the arenas and bigger venues, as I’m worried the sound might get tangled and lost in a bigger space. Week’s isn’t the most charismatic frontman either, but he’s loveable, and it’s difficult not to watch him almost wrestle and fight the words out of himself. Their confidence will no doubt grow over this tour and through the academy tour in April, and their arena credentials will be tested at their biggest show to date at the Ally Pally in the summer.
As much as us fans would love them to stay at this level for our own selfishness, it’s certainly the last time Leadmill will host a band of the Maccabees growing stature. What a start to 2012.
