The Maccabees
@ Rock City, Nottingham
05/10/09
Maccabees could be perceived as a band brimming with luck. While they have no doubt earned their acclaim, touring the globe to death and making a welcome return to Reading/Leeds festival this year, they have found themselves fortunate enough to still have everyone’s aural attention.
Where many bands would wilt and collapse with the pressures of the ‘shit, I hope they like it as much as our old stuff’ second album, Maccabees have surpassed even their own sly inhibitions. ‘Wall of Arms’ cleverly reinvented their two-a-penny indie serenades and judging by tonight, their adoring fan base has stuck close by.
Accompanying the headliners are fellow Brighton buddies Lyre Birds, a five-piece who attempt to blacken cheerful souls with their dark brooding melodies, enough gloom fit for any dark 80s dance floor. Singer Adam Day croons over Bauhaus synths and pulsating bass lines. Subtle but effective guitar work makes songs like ‘This is the Way’ sound like Interpol but with more personality.
Maccabees’ loyal fan base is easy to admire, as the band take to the stage receiving a raucous ovation. The band begin with ‘No Kind Words’, complete with excessive lightshow, which at best becomes unnecessary and annoying. Featuring on stage particularly for current songs is the band’s newly acquired horn section, giving recent single ‘Love You Better’ much greater depth. A perfect complement to vocalist Orlando Week’s chimney-sweep charm.
However classic tracks like ‘Latchmere’ have a re-worked and almost muddled feel, now also featuring a brass section, which disappoints the assortment of sound in their set. It is clear that album number two ‘Wall Of Arms’ has influenced the boys, but with songs like ‘X-Ray’ and ‘First Love’ still being the highlight of their set, it’s unclear if Maccabees are still clinging on to the laurels of debut ‘Colour It In’.
Thomas Warmsley
