The freezing Yorkshire weather means that the
cavernous Cockpit is almost full for tonight’s
opening band, local boys Summerlin. Their summery,
synth-pop is the perfect antidote to the adverse
conditions beyond the venue’s doors, and
despite a lack-lustre reaction from the crowd,
the quintet seem to be having a wail of a time
on stage. Tracks from their smile inducing So
Make Your Move EP feature heavily throughout their
short set, and while the onlookers do little more
than that, they have certainly warmed up the night
perfectly.
Next up are Southampton hotshots Not Advised.
After a blistering year which saw them release
their critically acclaimed EP After The Fight,
they are ending their year on a high and expecting
great things from 2011. Songs such as ‘A
Red Light Situation’ and ‘The World’s
Not Ready’ sound huge as they bounce off
the arched roof of the Cockpit, Not Advised are
a band that could give any pop-punk band a run
for their money, yet another cracking band from
the geniuses at LAB Records.
The tension reaches breaking point as everyone
waits for San Franciscan favourites Set Your Goals
to take to the stage. What started as a rather
flat night has ascended to an atmosphere of excitement,
the party has now begun. Currently on an extensive
UK tour with You Me At Six, Set Your Goals refuse
to rest on their laurels; even on their days off
they are not content with sitting in the van eating
Nando’s.
Playing their debut album Mutiny! in its entirety
and a select few from their 2009 follow-up This
Will Be The Death Of Us, they seem to relish in
the fact that they are playing to their fans tonight.
From the moment they appear the crowd goes ape
shit. There’s something about Set Your Goals
that oozes fun, many inhibitions are lost, from
band and audience alike.
Their gutsy pop-punk is matched only by the energy
given off by the band themselves, dual vocalists
Matt Wilson and Jordan Brown bound around the
stage throughout without missing a note. Tonight
has been fun for all, but you get the impression
that Set Your Goals are enjoying it more than
anyone. The UK has always been kind to this band,
but our praise is something that is truly deserved
– here’s to hoping that they come
back soon.
Summerlin – 4/5
Not Advised – 4/5
Set Your Goals – 5/5
Review By Ben Connell
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