Arriving at the Bush Empire just as Editors launched into the set, an eerie blue light was constantly shining in the background, for what effect this was to have on the band who knows! Having only recently heard of the Editors and reading their recent gig reviews in the latest issue of NME I was looking forward to their set. With no announcements for any of their songs I was a bit put out by this. Writing a review was going to be difficult enough without the added irritant of not knowing the track titles. The only song that I know of is MUNICH, which they probably played but as I’ve only heard it once on the radio I was not that familiar with it. BUGGER! All songs were played at an energetic pace, a typical thirty minutes set was strong and vibrant, that blue light somehow enhancing the band. The lead singer briefly interrupted the set by introducing the band but he revealed little else. Editors are a true indie rock band who certainly can gate crash any party. These brummie lads are well worth a look at. (If you know of any of their songs titles, or the names of the band members give us a poke, as I know practically bugger all about them)
The second support acts were The Subways. Having seen them last year at the Reading Festival it was going to be interesting to see how the band have progressed since then. Tonight they’ve certainly evolved into a major indie rock band with huge potential. From the off their set was fast and furious. The Subways comprise of brothers Billy and Josh Lunn ( Billy sings and plays guitar, Josh plays drums) and Mary-Charlotte Cooper (bass). An intriguing blend which sees Billy and Mary as boyfriend and girlfriend. This special mix of brothers and girlfriends has an explosive edge to it. Singles such as Rock n Roll Queen and Oh, Yeah! have the crowd jumping. Billy and Mary-Charlotte live and breath every moment, express with such emotion every word and play every note with conviction. All songs are amazingly fast, the band effortless reels off track after track. The band only announced the name of the two singles so again I was unable to gather details of tracks titles of other songs, but the two singles will stick in mind like mud sticks to your clothes whilst playing a crunching and destructive game of football whilst in the midst of an almighty down pour. This trio have the hallmark of a great band, if you only see one band this year The Subways are the ones. Rock on!!!!!!!!!!!
The lights dimmed, the bush empire explodes with noise as the crowd sense that EMBRACE are on their way. The band typically and casually walk onto the stage. Danny McNamara arms aloft stands in the middle of the stage acknowledging the crowd. The band launches into ASHES. The crowd are sucked into the song like the starship Enterprise caught in a tracker beam. Every word is song from the crowd. (for you that don’t know who Embrace are the band consists of brothers Danny (vocals) and Richard McNamara (guitar), Mike Heaton (drums), Steven Firth (bass) and Mikey Dale (keyboard)). The last time I saw Embrace they opened up with Ashes, this is such an ace song to begin with (my gig research is limited on Embrace but from what I’ve found I’m led to believe that the band always seem to open their sets with Ashes). From then on it was all go!! The first anthem of the night was up next. All You Good Good People filled the bush empire in a split second. Every word was song by the crowd. As the set went on my throat was getting very sore, as once Embrace have you in their trance that’s it your in it for the duration. Song after song, word after word you instinctively know and start to sing, it’s infectious! Luckily I was standing by one of the many Carling bars so a can of Carling was soon being tip with speed down my throat. Danny stated that after the following song had been performed, it was the first time in five years that the band had played this track live. Thinking back to the last time I saw Embrace live I couldn’t remember them playing it. The song in question was Last Gas. Most songs were taken from the first and latest albums. New material was aired for (maybe) the first time. According to Danny, taken from their fifth studio album, Contender was the possible the first single to be performed. This had a warm reception from the crowd. Old favourites such as Come Back to what you know and fireworks where played. Total crowd pleaser. Come back personally is my favourite song from the first album and I may be even adventurous to say that it is my favourite Embrace song of all time. It’s a hum dinger of a tune!!!
Embrace once again had the feel good factor about them. 18 songs in total were preformed. Every one a gem!!! Embrace can bring a whole venue of strangers together through their songs and there onstage persona. A friendly, happy, laid back band who could easily be your best mates. (Just ask Coldplay!)
(mental note must see Embrace again this year)
Track List: