In recent years, Live at Leeds has cultivated a reputation for attracting some of the UK’s top up and coming acts, as well as plenty of established bands, to stages across the city for a bank holiday feast. It can be seen as a stepping stone to be taken before breaking through into the upper echelons of the music business and is duly held in high esteem by fans, musicians and critics alike.
Still, walking from bright, midday sunshine into a dark, empty Cockpit is something of a shock to the system. The dimmed lighting and unmistakable “bar during the daytime smell”, which anyone who has ever pulled a pint will be all too familiar with, took some getting used to, but it was soon forgotten when The Midnight Beast blasted onto the stage. The trio are riding on the crest of a pop culture wave following their successful TV show and accompanied by a drummer, DJ and two dancers they kicked the day off in style.
They have an acutely witty style which, while not for everyone, ridicules the type of music that has come to dominate modern day charts. That the trio are excellent musicians and vocalists in their own right just adds to the irony and Just Another Boy Band and a cover of Ke$ha’sTik-Tok were the highlights of an excellent set.
A short walk across the city centre, at Leeds Uni, Scottish alt-rock quartet Vukovi were just getting started. Lead vocalist JanineShilstone gradually twisted the screw on a timid crowd and by the end was conducting an audience sing off from the middle of a Red Sea-style parting of the room. Her echo-laden vocals and confident delivery offset the thudding bass and created a finely balanced sound.
The beauty of a festival like Live at Leeds is that there is always someone playing somewhere, and it is very easy to come across the odd diamond in the rough. Mexanine’s performance proved to be one such gem, with their modern rock mixed with rough, rasping vocals and synths. The Bradford quartet possess some depth and are well worth checking out.
Little Matador (pictured right) were up next and making their first Live at Leeds appearance off the back of their debut album. The five-piece are something of an Irish supergroup, boasting members of the Frames, La Faro, Snow Patrol and Gavin Fox of Idlewild.
The three guitar, dual vocal attack, alongside a powerhouse rhythm section, created a wall of sound, dragging people in off the street as their set went on. It is a far cry from Nathan Connolly’s work with Snow Patrol, but one for those who enjoy their rock hard.
Dialling the amps back from 11, brother and sister-led Southern played to a packed Nation of Shopkeepers. Making the step up from acoustic performances, by adding bass and drums to their live show, has certainly expanded the horizons of Thom and Lucy Southern. Their indie-rock with a blues twist is most effective when the two harmonise, the pitching of male and female vocals adding a new dynamic. Still young and finding their sound in a quartet format, Southern will be more than satisfied with their Live at Leeds debut.
It is difficult to say whether Belfast post-rock quartet A Plastic Rose (pictured main) benefited or suffered from Royal Blood’s gig coming immediately after theirs at Leeds Met. Having moved to base themselves in Nottingham, Gerry, Ian, Dave and Troy have been gigging all over the UK, gaining recognition on national radio after a successful debut album.
As they kicked off their set on the Met’s Stage 2, most in the building were intent on getting a good spot for Royal Blood. They battled on, joking with a decent crowd that it was better than the five who turned out for their only other gig in Leeds. The deliciously heavy grunge of Metal Man and breakthrough anthem Kids Don’t Behave Like This drew a steady number of curious ears on their way to Royal Blood and epitomised a typically polished performance.
Next door on the Met Stage, fans were queuing out the back doors to catch a glimpse of the two-piece. Building on the success of bands like the White Stripes and Black Keys, Royal Blood frontmanMichaelKerr turns the convention on its head, using a bass rather than a guitar. Effects pedals allow him to make sounds that simply shouldn’t come from a bass guitar and thunderous drumming from Ben Thatcher whipped the crowd into a frenzy. Recent single Little Monster was the highlight of a strong set.
Such is the pull of Live at Leeds that headline acts included Frank Turner, Albert Hammond Jr, Palma Violets, the Hold Steady and Pulled Apart By Horses, leaving many festival goers with impossible decisions to make. Pulled Apart By Horses, one of a number of local bands treading the boards, topped a typically stellar bill at the Brudenell Social Club. Although outside the city centre, where most other venues are clustered, the Brudenell is legendary in the Leeds music scene and punches well above its weight in attracting top acts to take the stage.
The smaller Games Room stage boasted Leeds rockers Autobahn, with their twisting, echoing guitar and vocals, and London quartet Fair-Ohs. The latter describe themselves as "like Paul Simon...but, y’know…punk" and were unlucky not to command a stronger crowd for their set, which was as memorable for its saxophone-infused sound as it was for its short shorts.
Next door on the main stage, Glasgow outfit the Amazing Snakeheads played to a raucous reception. Relying on atmospheric, gradually building textures over a mesmerising drone-like rhythm section, the trio delivered a powerful performance. Lead singer and guitarist Dale Barclay chanted repetitive, demanding lyrics, almost howling at times as if the words simply couldn’t remain in his head and had to be freed.
Pits and head-banging were the order of the day for Holy Mountain. Dealing in layered heavy metal typified by minimal vocals and maximum guitar, the trio very quickly won the crowd over. It’s music without hooks, but it’s nonetheless powerful in a live setting. Axe-wielding frontman Andy McGlone tore his way around the stage, provoking mayhem on the Brudenell floor.
At varying times, cries of “Leeds Leeds Leeds” and “Yorkshire” were thrown at Pulled Apart By Horses, who lapped up the atmosphere. The quartet have been away for a while recording and treated the Brudenell crowd to several songs to be included on their next release. Already in a frenzy after the previous entertainment, the crowd were sent over tipping point by the local heroes, with riotous scenes enveloping the overflowing venue. No-one wanted to leave by the time Pulled Apart By Horses’ set climaxed and yet again Live at Leeds ended on a high, with fans sure to flock back again next year.
NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
