Sunday, May 05, 2013

Live Review :: Peace - Birthdays, London






Peace

Birthdays, London

May 1 2013


Words: Harry Barnes

The recently renovated Birthdays did not know what had hit it when B-Town lovies Peace hit the Dalston hub to play four sold out shows. On the second of the four, as the chiming start to their first song 'Delicious', you knew this was going to be one hell of a party.

The thing about indie music is it can either be a fresh new take on guitar clattering, melody matching music, or a dreadfully boring rehash of what wasn't even very good 20 years ago, let alone a dreary-weathered 2013. Don't let first impressions get to you with dPeace: you've got to give Peace a chance, and they certainly grabbed it with the full force of a top 20 album. This means something - guitar music is on the rise.

After the rocking O Children warmed up the already warm crowd, it was time for the main act to take to the stage. They start things off... pacy, shall we say? 'Delicious' receives a rapturous reception from the hoard of fans who lap up the music they were presented. Following this came hit single 'Follow Baby' - the song which undoubtedly put Peace on the radar - with its chorus that sounds like it will be added as an 11th commandment, if the crowd are anything to go by at least. "Follow baby, we're gonna live forever baby" could very well become the new anthem. If any new band was going to start a new religious cult, it would be this lot.




Audience chanting throughout the night for an early demo 'Vials' received no more than a wry grin from Doug Castle, the lead guitarist, seemingly knowing they had plenty in the bag to offer. The band have a certain dynamic on stage, with the pair of brothers Harrison and Sam Koisseur providing a focal point. Prace certainly have the tunes, their singles 'Wraith' and 'Bloodshake' were received with a far from icy reception - but will they stick or twist, or disappear into the psychedelic sunset? The only weakness in their otherwise outstanding repertoire came with 'Scumbag', which should perhaps have been dropped in favour of the faster paced bonus track 'Drain, with its clashinh middle 8. A minor point perhaps in what overall was a splendid gig. 'Give Peace a chance', well we did - and bloody good it was too.

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