So 2010 saw me arrive at the same venue 2009 left off arriving at Liverpool Academy to be  surrounded by hoards of Tinchy Stryder fan’s. It wasn’t a pretty sight and no i do not want to buy your mix cd with Chipmunk and N-Dubz on. Seemed a bit of a shambles outside the venue i had no idea what i was queueing for and i certainly didn’t want to have the pleasure of seeing Tinchy Stryder again. Thankfully Tom and Ellen told me when I saw them outside the venue so we joined another queue and everything was fine.

First up Islet who I thought would be good but I really didn’t think they’d be as good as they we’re. First song opened with just random screaming before going into a good half an hours worth of brilliant experimental noise. Islet definitely justify the hype. Possibly one of the finest bands I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing live. They did everything any good live band should do, plenty of jumping up and down, running around the stage, throwing tambourines at each other. Every song sounded as interesting as the next going from slow melodic droning synth noise through to at one stage all four members battering the fuck out of their drum kit. Hopefully I’ll get to see Islet again in the near future cos they were just flippin’ brilliant.

Swanton Bombs were alright it was obvious that they are both brilliant musicians but there’s only so much garage rock can stand before it gets boring. Didn’t really get me interested in them at all. Not really much to say about them to be honest cos’ it’s just not really my cup of tea. I’m sure plenty of others enjoyed them though.

Los Campesinos! opened this time with new set opener ‘I Just Sighed. I Just Sighed, Just So You Know’. Lacked the energy an urgency that it had on the record but then they played ‘Death to Los Campesinos!’ and that got the crowd going. I think that will always be my favourite LC! song. Gareth coming out with great one-liners all evening with ease “We’re Tinchy Stryder”. Before breaking into ‘Letters From Me to Charlotte’ featuring great brother and sister synchronised dance move sand a frighteningly awesome ‘Miserabila’. Kim now looking more confident than ever, I think it’s got the stage now where she has managed to replace Aleks brilliant and certainly match her her vocal prowess throughout. ‘There Are Listed Buildings’ then made the step up from good song to brilliant song as the crowd sung along endlessly, even then at the tender acapella bit at the end of a racy ‘Straight in at 101’. The set carried on and song after song was the same brilliance that i’d grown to expect with Gareth often at time screaming at the crowd. Sadly they didn’t mix anything up tonight I would of liked it if they’d done something a little different but oh well. Probably cos they can’t do a lot of the best songs of ‘Romance is Boring’ live. The hilarity from Gareth continued “One of Tinchy Stryder’s entourage pissed in a kettle”. ‘You! Me! Dancing!’ played as expected with suitable response from everyone, didn’t mind that they fucked up the intro. ‘The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future’ seemed less intense than it had done on previous occasions sadly. But it doesn’t matter cos’ the finished with traditional set closer ‘Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks’. Before hand in which Gareth thanked the audience for letting them have the second best job in the world cos’ none of them would of ever made it as footballer. Gareth jumping into the crowd as always got to ruffle his hair and probably got sexually abused after being pulled out looking like he was about to die. Perfect end to an almost perfect night. I think Los Campesinos! have now got the staying power to become one of the finest ‘alternative’ bands this country has produced in the last five years or so. Perfectdly managing to combine a mix of great songs, superb lyrics and blistering live performances. Yet I feel the best is still yet to come. Made sure I told Gareth he was awesome as always before I left, leaving with new t-shirt, a mug, couple of pin badges and an Islet fan-zine

SET LIST

  1. Heart Swells/100-01
  2. I Just Sighed. I Just Sighed, Just So You Know
  3. Death to Los Campesinos!
  4. …Letter’s From Me To Charlotte
  5. Miserabila
  6. There Are Listed Buildings
  7. Straight In At 101
  8. Romance is Boring
  9. Way’s To Make It Through The Wall
  10. Who Fell Asleep In
  11. My Year In Lists
  12. This Is A Flag. There Is No Wind
  13. We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed
  14. You! Me! Dancing!
  15. The Sea Is A Good Place To Think Of The Future
  16. Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks

Can’t complain with that can you

James x