Live Review :: The Shimmer Band :: Brudenell Social Club, Leeds - Apr 12 2017

Live

The Shimmer Band

Brudenell Social Club Games Room, Leeds

April 12 2017

Words/Pictures: Danny Shackleton

The sun was shining on Leeds for what was a beautiful early spring evening, creating the perfect vibe and no better band to take advantage of this than The Shimmer Band. The supports for tonight also showcased the wealth of talent on offer from Leeds bands with locals Atlanta House (who are one of this reviewer's personal favourites) dropping a new EP soon are one to keep an eye out for, and the brilliantly quirky The Magic Eye Pictures.

The stage was set for a brilliant night of colossal tunes and a taste of what is to come on many peoples’ summer soundtrack from the Bristol five-piece. Opening their set with 'What Is Mine', we were greeted with a massive hair display and an even more massive sound from the boys on stage. It was clear to see that they had the whole crowd in the palm of their hands tonight, with their all-encompassing sonics filling the whole room - and possibly even the one next door. The synthesizers were brought into life with a bang on next song 'Jacknife and The Death Call', with synth man Tom Smith frantically creating a sonically brilliant atmosphere.

Crowd favourites 'Freedom' and 'Sunkick' got everyone going in a mass singalong, with us creating the choir part of the latter as asked by frontman Tom Newman. 'Freedom' itself had a superb bassline running through it courtesy of bassist Tom Kuras (with three out of five Toms in the line-up they could easily be The Tom Band, except that wouldn’t quite sound as cool) as the song had everyone hanging on Tom's every last word. Speaking to them after, it was obvious to see how much they love playing live, giving 110% to every show and making sure their fans are in for a treat every single time they walk onto the stage.

This band proves there is a renaissance of guitar music at the moment, with these at the forefront thanks to their awesome, radio-friendly sound.
As they raced through the seven song set, each member of the band giving their all to produce an epic night of live music, it was a truly euphoric atmosphere to be a part of. There was a unanimous feeling amongst the crowd that they were seeing something special, and those who I spoke to later were in no doubt that this band are going to be big.

The Shimmer Band proved they are a band on the brink and you'd probably be a fool not to try and catch them live as this could quite easily be the last year you’re able to see them in a small, intimate venue because if tonight was anything to go by, this tour is going to see them explode.