They're regarded by many as one of the most hard-working bands around, four albums since 2004, and in that time they've built up a number of highly devoted fans, leading to Q magazine declaring the band as "the biggest cult band in the UK."
The band, originally from Wakefield, consisting of three brothers; Ross, Gary and Ryan Jarman, and former Smiths and Modest Mouse guitarist, Johnny Marr, who only joined the band in 2008, are touring to promote their most recent album, the fantastically titled, 'Ignore the Ignorant'.
Previous to that, when the band were only a three-piece, the band released three albums; their self-titled debut in 2004, followed by 'The New Fellas' the following year, and 'Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever' in 2007, which saw the band reach their fame.
Singles such as 'You're Gonna Lose Us', 'Mirror Kissers' and 'Men's Needs', their highest placed single at number 17, have seen the band gain some very popular fans, such as Ricky Wilson from the Kaiser Chiefs, and Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand, who also contributed to the production of 'Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever'.
But it's their live performances that have really seen the band shine, and is one of the reasons as to why tonight's show was a complete sell out many months before the gig even took place.
Opening tonight's show was the beautiful New Yorker, Lissy Trullie, who obtains one of the best, husky, voices I've heard in a long time, and thin, model like looks, making her look the part, but she also had the music to back up the look. 'Self Taught Learner' was a highlight in her set, but it was the cover of Hot Chip's 'Ready for the Floor', that really got the growing crowd moving.
Following on from Trullie was fellow New Yorker, Adam Green, former frontman of New York cult-act, The Moldy Peaches. Green really went all out with his performance, launching himself around the stage and into the audience on several occasions, really warming up the crowd before the headliners. Before the set I wasn't sure what to expect from him, but he really impressed with a set comprising of danceable indie-funk tunes, including single 'Morning After Midnight', which really sound impressive.
Tonight's headliners however, really stole the show. Taking to the stage shortly after 9.30pm, the band treated the sold-out audience to a set which featured much of their recent album, including the recent, very Smiths-like, single, 'Cheat on Me', which was received warmly by the audience. But it was the band's old tracks, especially 'Men's Needs', 'Mirror Kissers' and, my personal highlight of the set 'Be Safe', which features a spoken word extract by Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo, which saw mass crowd-surfing and arms in the air sing-alongs follow.
The band definitely impressed the majority of the audience and for me personally, having seen the band several times, the band showed a new maturity that seems to have come in since Marr joined the band. The band are definitely moving forward, and they're still a draw live.
They're playing some dates around the country in December, if you can, I'd recommend that you attend. It won't be long before they take to even bigger venues.
article by: Anthony Hetherington
published: 02/10/2009 16:19
FUTURE GIGS
sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.