Live Review :: The Slow Readers Club :: The Haunt, Brighton - Apr 9 2019

Live 

The Slow Readers Club

The Haunt, Brighton

April 9 2019

Words/Pictures: Steve Willcox 

The Northern rains of Manchester seem to have come down to spoil the nice weather we’ve been having recently, but that doesn't seem to have deterred any of The Slow Readers Club's South Coast fans from turning out on this soggy seaside town night.

This may not be a home turf three-thousand-seater draw, but The Haunt is filled and humming. As I snake my way through the hordes of fans who are mainly middle-aged men but with a few younger females dotted about, so not really sure which way this penultimate gig is gonna go: it’s either going to be a disco, or a lads night out .

The band enters to the strains of Donna Summer's ‘I Feel Love’ thumping in the background, a loud cheer welcomes them into Brighton (so it’s going to be a disco then). It’s their first foray to Brighton despite extensive gigging since 2009 which is crazy as their sound of 80s electro-pop is ideal for the city.

The layered rhythms of ‘Lunatic’ launches the set with cavalcade of synth/pop beats filling the room as vocalist Aaron Starkie uses his full vocal range to full effect as he sings, “Once again I'm drawn toward oblivion / The end already written though we've just begun”, which is a song about feeling disconnected from the world and its people - something that could not be levelled against the Readers.

Their eight-year-old first single. the urgent and melodic ‘Sirens’ is warmly greeted by fans as an old friend; guitarist and sibling Kurtis Starkie bringing in its edgy guitar riff. This is the start of the crowd's interaction as they howl like a wolf at its chorus with the strobe lights flashing on them, something that is in abundance tonight.

During 2014’s ‘Start Again’ from the 'Cavalcade' EP,  Aaron is standing under the white spotlight with his arms moving like a clock and with James Ryan’s bass thumping away, hanging low, taunting the crowd, but they love it as they are bobbing up and down and gesturing back to the band in turn.

From last year's 'Build A Tower' album, ‘You Opened Up My Heart’ takes indark sweeping synths with Aaron’s voice reaching those low notes and then soaring high to echo back into the crowd with brooding intensity; the latter who clap and respond n time to its infectious beats and anthemic chorus. After which Aaron modestly thanks the crowd for being supportive and that its been a year now since they’ve quit their day jobs and the fact “you lot” have bought their albums and seen the live shows, that they are truly grateful.

‘Lost Boys’ is played with vocal support from brother Kurtis as they harmonise together and take turns alternating at the mic on lead, while bassist Ryan stares into the crowd, his feet splayed out to its disco-esque beats. Early fan favourite ‘Feet On Fire’ gets a play with its loud and brash delivery, full of band interplay and enough to make the crowd stamp their feet and as the song ends you hear the fans shout “Readers! Readers! Readers!" to show their love to the band.

They close the 16-song long setlist is ‘On The TV’ . The song with its powerful lyrics that touch on feeling anxiety over the state of the modern world, fills out with fast-paced rums and a stirring guitar riff, as the crowd get into it swing by jumping wildly and dancing to its contagious rhythm. Unfortunately, despite the crowd chanting the melody “Da dada da dada, Da dada da dada” back to the empty stage, there was no encore tonight due to the early curfew, and slowly everyone heads towards the exit. But even on venturing out into the chilly, wet night, no elements were going to put a damp squib on what had been a warm and encompassing show from a band who have no trouble in pulling out all the stops.