Tonight’s opening slot goes to Brummie four
piece Page 44. An outfit that look at ease in
such surroundings, their enthusiasm is respectfully
met by the crowd that has gathered for the early
curfew show at the Manchester Roadhouse. The quartet
blast through a short (yet sweet) set and can
leave the stage knowing that the audience are
well and truly on the same page as themselves.
For those who have heard tonight’s next
band Telegraphs on record, you will know that
they are huge. So they should only be bigger and
better live, right? Correct. Though the night
is young Brighton’s finest purveyors of
racket waste no time in showing the eager crowd
what they are made of. What follows is a glorious
display of male and female dual vocals, driving
guitars and a lot of dancing.
It’s been a year and half since Brigade
have been seen touring the length and breadth
of the country. Often overshadowed by his younger
brother’s foray into the world of pop, frontman
Will Simpson is ravenous to prove that Brigade
have what it takes to be the band to defeat all
the odds. No pressure, then.
Tonight is especially important for Brigade,
it was at this very same venue one and a half
years ago that Simpson’s voice decided to
up sticks and leave. Brigade know this is an important
show, they know they have a job to do and they
certainly know that they might not get another
chance like this. Some may call it luck, others
may call it coincidence, but Brigade pull off
tonight’s show with aplomb. And I call that
destiny.
Despite not having released a new record since
2008, Brigade’s songs still sound sublime.
Head crunching riffs seam effortlessly into guitar
pop anthems, and it is these intricacies that
put them head and shoulders above any of their
counterparts, it’s just a shame the rest
of the world hasn’t yet cottoned on. Magneto
is a song of epic proportions that the small shell
of the Roadhouse struggles to contain, and if
their new songs are anything to go by, their next
record will certainly drag them to where they
should be.
If Brigade were nervous about tonight’s
show, you couldn’t tell. They seem to be
genuinely bowled over by the hero’s welcome
they receive. And no band deserves this more than
them.
Page 44 4/5
Telegraphs 4/5
Brigade 5/5
Review By ben Connell
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