The Beat Surrender

We only get to the gig at about half past eight, so I have no idea what The Officers were like who I believe were supporting them, at the end of the day though this is of little concern as we are here to see The Music on the third and biggest leg of their four cities tour so far, as they have a homecoming in Leeds.

I know they’ve played in Leeds twice already this year, but tonight has the feeling of a real homecoming as more people have been able to get tickets, the air in the crowd is celebratory and more importantly the band are here with a point to prove in their home city.

When they left things three years ago after the lukewarm reception to their second album, they were still the current top dogs in Leeds, since then of course the musical landscape has changed completely in this City. The Kaiser Chiefs and The Pigeon Detectives have broken out and are now a big national concern, to add to that young talented upstarts like The Hair and The Sunshine Underground have emerged, which means the bands indie/dance crown is under challenge, under their very own noses.

They come on fired up and ready show Leeds that they still have the potential to be the cities number one. Rob Harvey looks like he’s preparing for a world title fight, hooded top up, he bounces from one foot to the other in front of the crowd, the only thing missing is some shadow boxing and the Rocky soundtrack.

Then they fire straight into Take The Long Road And Walk It, an old classic that immediately gets the crowd bouncing, they follow this with two new songs, both of which don’t let the pace drop, The Spike just edges it over Drugs for me as the best of the two, but either way the signs are good for the new album as things seem to be going in a more dancey direction.

Throughout the set Harvey spirals around the stage, doing his own version of funky dancing, he’s got that manic feel to him that reminds me of a very young Tim Booth if anybody ever saw James early on in their career. Of the other new songs played, Fire is the best of the night and a potential future single, Strength In Numbers is also good as the title track to the new album.

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