The Maccabees at O2 Academy, Brixton
Can you turn it down a bit, please?
Review
Itchy loves The Maccabees. We really do. From First Love to Pelican,
we've been there, listening avidly to their catchy guitars and unique
vocals. We saw them at Reading a few years ago and were hugely
impressed by lead singer Orlando's ability to whack out a whistling
solo. So obviously we couldn't wait to see them live at the O2 Academy,
Brixton.
We really wish we could say OMG IT WAS AMAZING YEEEEAH BEST GIG EVAAAAH! But, alas, we cannot. Want to know why? It was just too loud.
Now, don't sit there and judge us. We enjoy a guitar solo with the volume pumped all the way up to eleven as much as the next person, but sometimes things can get SO LOUD that you just sort of stop hearing anything except a big wall of sound with the occasional drumbeat piercing through. That's what happened at The Maccabees gig.
What made this even more disappointing was that we love the new album - we particularly appreciate the intricate guitar melodies and well thought out harmonies. Any of that was completely lost in the massive racket incessantly blasting out of the speakers. Add in the strobe lighting and at times Itchy felt like we were in some kind of WW2 attack.
Alright, enough moaning. Some of the gig was really top stuff (First Love, for instance, was a real return to form... but Itchy imagines they could play that in their sleep after touring with it for so long) and the crowd got doubly excited when they struck the opening chords of any song from last album Wall of Arms.
Despite the sound levels, the crowd around Itchy was loving it throughout, with some seriously interesting dance moves displayed by certain male members of the audience (You in the white vest and peak cap: we were watching.) and chants of "Let's. Take. Our. Pre. Cious. Time. About. It." echoing around the domed ceiling. Their opening song Child, from new album Given To The Wild, showcased Orlando's vocals along with a band that are totally in tune with each other, creating a tight and polished sound. If only the rest of the gig had been so perfect. We still love you, boys, but please don't do this to us again. Promise?
We really wish we could say OMG IT WAS AMAZING YEEEEAH BEST GIG EVAAAAH! But, alas, we cannot. Want to know why? It was just too loud.
Now, don't sit there and judge us. We enjoy a guitar solo with the volume pumped all the way up to eleven as much as the next person, but sometimes things can get SO LOUD that you just sort of stop hearing anything except a big wall of sound with the occasional drumbeat piercing through. That's what happened at The Maccabees gig.
What made this even more disappointing was that we love the new album - we particularly appreciate the intricate guitar melodies and well thought out harmonies. Any of that was completely lost in the massive racket incessantly blasting out of the speakers. Add in the strobe lighting and at times Itchy felt like we were in some kind of WW2 attack.
Alright, enough moaning. Some of the gig was really top stuff (First Love, for instance, was a real return to form... but Itchy imagines they could play that in their sleep after touring with it for so long) and the crowd got doubly excited when they struck the opening chords of any song from last album Wall of Arms.
Despite the sound levels, the crowd around Itchy was loving it throughout, with some seriously interesting dance moves displayed by certain male members of the audience (You in the white vest and peak cap: we were watching.) and chants of "Let's. Take. Our. Pre. Cious. Time. About. It." echoing around the domed ceiling. Their opening song Child, from new album Given To The Wild, showcased Orlando's vocals along with a band that are totally in tune with each other, creating a tight and polished sound. If only the rest of the gig had been so perfect. We still love you, boys, but please don't do this to us again. Promise?
1 Comment
kimmy
01 Feb 2012bless the boys! Have a splendid sexy day Itchy x