The Maccabees / We Cut Corners - In Review
The Maccabees / We Cut Corners - In Review
The Academy
March 3, 2012
Despite the sad-looking refreshment-denying hoods on the taps of the bar in the Academy for this over 14s gig, there was no doubt in my mind that the night was going to be a good one and even with my high expectations, I wasn’t disappointed.
As the Maccabees took to the stage, the temperature rose exponentially with anticipation and the crowd reciprocated their arrival by peeling of the layers of clothes they had put on to, in many cases, run across to the Twisted Pepper next door to grab a quick (alcoholic) drink between bands. ‘Child’ – a track off the Maccabees newly released Given To The Wild album – was the opening gambit for the band, enticing an already game crowd into a bouncing frenzy. Their set constantly fluctuates between singular vocal or guitar lines that rise into blaring, cacophonous soundscapes, pitch-perfect to the recorded versions on the albums. ‘Glimmer’ was a great performance, a gorgeous synth/piano line introduction with nuanced, David Lynch-esque noises balancing sincere and beautiful vocal lines, which were just about heard above the harmonies of the crowd. The band, on what was the first night of a tour that will span thirteen dates around the UK and Ireland, suggested that they felt a touch rusty, though you’d never have guessed it, given the performance of a mix of songs spanning their discography. ‘Grew Up At Midnight’ was the closing track of what turned out to be a three song encore (which I always feel slightly defeats the purpose of an ‘encore’) which initially I thought to be an odd choice, but the sonic intensity at the end of the song proved me damn wrong on that opinion. The whole show was an absolute blinder – the sweaty crowd leaving the building a testament to the great performances by both acts, the only even slightly disgruntled attendee being the bouncer who was often wrestling to get revellers down off the shoulders of others.
Awesome.
Sarah O’ Neill
@FolieadeuxS
Photos by Gareth Sharkey.
