Live
Live At Leeds
Various venues, Leeds
May 4 2019
Reporting team: Braden Fletcher, Matthew Walker, Ellie Ward
Photos: As credited
Arriving in Leeds for its annual city festival is always special. The lineup is always stacked and once you get your venue bearings, you’ll be able to route without many hitches. The early news then, that Stylus, one of Leeds’ bigger and better venues, has flooded overnight moving most of its acts elsewhere, but sadly leaving no space for our planned headliners Metronomy, does feel like an early dampener. Nonetheless, there’s still plenty to see in the day with around 200 acts to choose from, and we’ll just have to see where it takes us.
One of the first draws of the day is midday at The Wardrobe for VANT. Frontman Mattie Vant thanked the expectant crowd for turning out so early and let us in gently with an acoustic opener. The band soon had the place bouncing with politically motivated lyrics, soaring guitar riffs and rousing choruses. ‘Peace and Love’ and ‘Wait A Minute’ stand out as best.
VANT: LAL
At the same time at Nation of Shopkeepers, Scottish native-come-Leeds-resident Tamzene opens up the day. Whilst somewhat basic in setup, her take on alt-pop that borders between synth beats and singer-songwriter styles hold the attention of an audience that hasn’t even had lunch yet. BLOXX fill The Wardrobe for their afternoon set. Whilst the band only have a handful of singles out and an EP compiled earlier this year, they hold their own to a crowd who are more than willing to take the songs in. It’s a pattern that seems to repeat at Live at Leeds but not one that’s lost on anyone who plays here; definitely not BLOXX who seem to feed off the positivity and play a great set of indie-rock tracks that are slowly getting the traction they deserve.
Bloxx: Braden Fletcher
Sports Team play a surprise set in the city centre on Doc Marten's outdoor stage early in the day, and later at The Wardrobe - both occasions packing in a high energy set. The Wardrobe wasn’t full, but that’s often the case as the crowds follow the more established acts later on. Upbeat songs delivered at blistering pace had frontman Alex Rice asking "was that a bit more rock star, porn star, super star for you?" alluding to Fontaines D.C.'s 'Boys In The Better Land'. Encouraged by great performances of ‘Kutcher’ and ‘Get Along’ and ‘M5’, the crowd bounced along to the infectious rhythm and energy. Rice even joined them for short time in the crowd.
Sports Team: Braden Fletcher
Following the release of their debut single ‘Boxer’ last year, local five-piece Cruel World are at Oporto. "The only band at the festival not on Spotify, we are that cool," they quip, as they serve up rhythmic indie pop mixed with witty chat between songs. By their own admission they need more material, but certainly a band to track.
Cruel World: Matthew Walker
Arriving in drenching rain last night, anyone still ringing the sogginess out of their clothes would have been drip-dried in Oporto. The relatively small venue is filled to bursting for Household Dogs and their brand of gritty alt-rock - which may have been partly our fault in naming this local band as one to catch in our preview! Well, we know a good 'un when we hear them. Across the city at Leeds Beckett University, Wovoka Gentle had their van and equipment stolen the night before. In true fighting spirit, they manage to borrow enough to get an artistically folky set together and still play a show. This setting highlights the intricacies of their music and attention to harmony, but they’d be the first to admit that the depth that can be found in their electronics and effects are an absent strength to this afternoon’s show. They play through this struggle and even manage to joke about figuring out how to play the songs and manage to keep a consistent audience throughout.
Dream Wife: Braden Fletcher
Just around the corner, in the same building’s larger room, Dream Wife kick off a set in powerful fashion. For a band who are only playing their second show of the year (of which the first was earlier in the week), they’re on fine form. With a new album’s worth of material under their belt that is received well even though it’s not quite as ‘punk’ as previous releases, the three piece (plus drummer) seem invigorated and as powerful as ever. To see Dream Wife live isn’t just an empowering sermon to “bad bitches” at the front, it’s a call to have a good time whilst hearing their message.
Dream Wife: Braden Fletcher
Gengahr: Matthew Walker
One of Leeds’ finest emerging talents Marsicans. Having worked their way up the bills in the last few years and grafting hard on tours and releases, to see the 02 Academy fill for the local band is incredible and they don’t let down.
Marsicans: Braden Fletcher
Whilst the sound is a little shaky for the first few songs, the band are carried by the crowd and come out even stronger for the second half of their set. From 'Arms Of Another', live favourite 'Pop Ups (Sunny At The Weekend)' to latest single 'Your Eyes', it’s a coming of age moment for the band that's felt throughout the almost full 2,000 capacity room.
Marsicans: Braden Fletcher
Hot Milk is something perhaps not to everyone's taste as a beverage, but there were enough fans in the Key Club room to demonstrate this relatively new band were to the liking of most. The Manchester emo-power poppers rocked up an impressive, tight set, with vocalist James Shaw proving he can do sad pop with aplomb. Chappaqua Wrestling also do it with style, and this Brighton-based twosome, Charlie Wood and Jake Mac, who front the quartet, have their own unique way of pulling a familiar sound that is part Californian surf and part Oasis. What results is something that is slowing building for these, and you could sense the crowd interest as their catchy sound brought in more and more people to fill The Key Club room.
Chappaqua Wrestling
With new single '2 Many’ just out and EP ‘Existential Fears’ to follow in June, Swimming Girls at The Chapel fill a showcase set with nostalgic pop. The West Country four-piece offer bright, brash gems that come over well in a live setting and should ensure their move to bigger stages before long.
Sam Fender: Braden Fletcher
The most hyped act on this year’s bill,
Sam Fender, is greeted to the 02 Academy's stage with the adoration of a man a few albums into his career and proceeds to play a full 45-minute set as if he had. He starts off with a few more subdued tracks before escalating through his singles and powering through latest singles 'Play God' and 'Hypersonic Missiles' like they’re old favourites.
Whilst he may not be the most comfortable with the pace fame has come at him, it seems that he’s more than comfortable on stage in front of an adoring crowd and his band even find time to confidently pull off Oasis' 'What’s The Story (Morning Glory)' to make sure fans are left wanting more in the future. He’ll be back to Leeds on his next tour headlining this venue and from what we’ve seen; most of the room will be back.
Sam Fender: Braden Fletcher
Fatherson: Braden Fletcher
Fatherson play in the converted Church space. With the lungs on Ross Leighton, you’d be forgiven for thinking you were still in a place of worship although with a mismatch of sound, it can be occasionally hard to hear his vocals shining through. The Scottish rock band’s third record has very much secured their space on the touring circuit, but you do have to wonder after three such strong albums what the band have to do to get a big break. 'Open Book' is a festival anthem desperate for a field big enough for it’s might, whilst the lead single from last year’s 'The Sum of All Your Parts', 'Making Waves', is arena ready, yet somehow both struggle in such an echo-heavy hall as Church. Tables will turn for Fatherson if they keep going like this, but sadly today isn’t the best day to highlight that.
Also from north of the border are Walt Disco. At the Brudenell Community Room, if you want something a little theatrical, to be entertained visually as much as aurally, then this could be your band. 'Young, Hard and Handsome' is their tag line, and angular guitars paired with dark synths, the quintet meld 80s-esque new-wave with indie-pop. It's hard not to be transfixed by vocalist James Potter, who performs with eye-popping dramatics. Birthday girl Zuzu brings her band to Oporto, and the pint-size Liverpudlian soon has the room with her all the way, even with a few techy problems. ‘Dark Blue’ and "All Good’ were highlights of the all too short a set.
The Snuts: Jude Dawson
On The Wardrobe stage Scottish indies, The Snuts, were proclaiming "this is our first gig off the Buckfast - it’s probably the hardest thing we have ever tried to do," leaving half the busy crowd concerned, and the other half asking "what’s Buckfast?" No need to worry. This was high energy indie music, reminiscent of early Artic Monkeys or The Libertines, performed with a swagger and assured confidence of a band that knows it’s strengths. The mosh pit, measured in depth and height on occasions, joined in with football terrace enthusiasm, spurring the band on to a killer performance. ‘Summertime’, ‘What’s Going On?’ and the anthemic ‘Glasgow’, with its mixed tempo and rousing chorus, were particularly well received. Set closer ‘Sing for Your Supper’ could be heard on the streets outside as the crowd made their way to the next venue. One of the festival highlights - not sure the Monks of Buckfast Abbey would approve though!
The Murder Capital
There must be regular flights in and out of Ireland filled solely with label A&R folk on the hunt for the next band to break after the last year's influx of talent from across the water. With Fontaines D.C. currently standing out in front, The Murder Capital must surely be hot to be the next breakers. The art-punk-rock Dubliners, fronted by hard man-looking vocalist, the besuited James McGovern, take to the Brudenell Main Room stage and give out an air of menace; often breaking to perch on a monitor, staring out at into the room, while the rest of the band explode around him. 'For Everything, 'On Twisted Ground', 'Love, Love, Love' and ‘Green and Blue’ are hammered out with sharp guitar riffs and intense, unhampered rhythms.
Orla Gartland: Braden Fletcher
With just herself and multi-instrumentalist Pete Daynes on stage, you’d be forgiven for worrying that
Orla Gartland’s sound might lack. Fortunately both members of Orla’s band tonight have more than enough in their arsenal to fill the room at the Belgrave Music Hall. The crowd isn’t the biggest the room could handle by any stretch, but it’s dedicated and up for a party from the off so 'Between My Teeth' is a great place to start and as Gartland throws herself through her career thus far, it’s easy to see how the crowd are swept away. Not only is the music on point, but the endearing personality that’s helped make her a success on YouTube and as a touring artist heats up what has become a rather chilly evening in West Yorkshire.
Tom Grennan: Jade Petty
Tom Grennan plays to a full house at the Refectory as one of the late evening headliners. Now something of an old hand at commanding big festival stages, he seemed in his element as, backed by a full band, he bounded around the stage having fans sing out his lyrics word perfect. 'Royal Highness', 'Praying', 'Lighting Matches' all lit up the set as his powerfully soulful voice ricocheted off the walls. Other co-headliner Sundara Karma end the night with a colourful set and low hung lanterns at 02 Academy. The Reading band. fronted by Oscar Pollock, shower the rammed Academy - filled to the rafters with staunch fans and the festival curious - with strong performance of favourites like ‘Flame’, ‘Explore’, the singalong 'She Said', and ending on rousing perennial 'One Last Night on This Earth'.
Sundara Karma
And that, apart from some late night/early morning partying, was Live At Leeds over for another year, after once again showing a vast array of new and emerging artists, as well as those now established on the ladder.
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