Live
Shambolics
The Lending Room, Leeds
September 9 2017
Words/Pictures: Danny Shackleton
Descending on Leeds for the first of their four-date headline tour for promoters This Feeling, Fife's Shambolics rocked up at The Lending Room ready to show the good Yorkshire folk how it’s done up in Scotland. A packed out room waited with baited breath for what was their first trip to Leeds, but undoubtedly not their last thanks to the reaction they got from their fans.
Kicking off the set with ‘Never Gonna Change’, then diving straight into live favourite ‘Psychedelic Sally’ - which was dedicated to all the members of the audience (including your reviewer here) sporting a Shams t-shirt - it was clear to see was how well-oiled these boys are as a live act, with lead vocals effortlessly switching between the two frontmen, Lewis McDonald and Darren Forbes, with bassist Jordan McHatton sandwiched in the middle showing off his moves. Even with a few technical issues slowing the set down, they always managed to have the crowd in the palm of their hands, keeping things flowing perfectly. The night really kicked into top gear once they started on ‘Scarlett Harlett’, last year's debut single, with dancing and singing along coming from all over the room by the well pumped crowd.
New song ‘Chasing A Disaster’ with its La’s-esque guitar licks and massive chorus goes down an absolute treat, with most of the crowd singing the lyrics back, despite it only being out a few days which just goes to show how brilliant and catchy of a song they have wrote. ‘Love Collides’, their second single, was my personal favourite of the set thanks to the powerful delivery from both vocalists and guitarists, filling the room with Smiths-like riffs and huge chorus.
Although their influences are visible at times in their songs, there is never too much of one at any one time as they use them to their advantage, mixing in their own sound to great effect. Closer, ‘When She Goes Home’, with its jangly guitars and epic bassline running though, is made for their live show, with it being sped up and begging for crowd involvement and lyrics being screamed back at the band.
After seeing them tonight, it's clear so see why there has been so much fuss and hype about them, and why they have been selling out big venues back in Scotland. It is only a matter of time before we see scenes like those in Scotland all over the country, thanks to the dedication of this band. If you get the chance to see them on their current tour, I assure you you won’t regret it; and you’ll more than likely be ranting and raving about 'this band called Shambolics you just have to see' to your friends - just like I was.
Mon the Shams.
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