The Maccabees live at Rock City - Photo by Shaun Gordon
The Maccabees have a firm spot in a lot of people's musical hearts – there’s a tune for just about everyone and unsurprisingly, the five-piece are bigger than ever and armed with their fourth album, Marks to Prove It.
Tonight kicks off the beginning of their 15-date UK tour, renowned shy frontman Orlando Weeks tells the crowd, “This is the first one one of the tour and it’s very nice to start here.” First single from their latest album Marks to Prove It opens proceedings, sending plastic cups flying the moment the fast bass lands. Feel To Follow from their critically acclaimed and Mercury Music Prize nominated Given to the Wild shortly follows, an album which sadly featured the least in the set list.
The Maccabees live at Rock City - Photo by Shaun Gordon
Orlando, the bassist, and the two guitarists stand in line and please the audience with indie classics from time ago such as First Love, Love You Better and Precious Time – still tight and polished as ever and still sending indie kids crazy.
Lesser known hits from their latest effort are welcomed, despite a secret feeling of disappointment due to the London bands humungous back catalogue. New ones Something Like Happiness and Spit It Out keep the crowd on their toes and lyrics are often shouted back to the band.
The Maccabees live at Rock City - Photo by Shaun Gordon
The sensitive We Grew Up At Midnight ends their set, the quiet intensive build up gives the crowd chance to have a break before breaking into another frenzy - or simply trying to avoid being caught in a mosh pit.
Chants of “Maccabees, Maccabees, Maccabees” are blared out before they return to the stage with a something-for-everyone encore featuring two of their most famous hits and two from the new album. River Song, which is the first time it's been played live, is shortly followed by WW1 Portraits, prompting an impatient build up to the ones everyone’s waiting for. The pleasing Toothpaste Kisses results in a mass singalong before the pulsing Pelican sends the band on their way.
The Maccabees were at Rock City on Wednesday 18 November 2015.
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