So last nights entertainment was provided by the really quite excellent Maccabees. This was the third time in just over 6 months that I’ve seen them and I’m still not bored with them. Their angular take on indie-pop brings a smile to my face and warms my cockles. Ooeer. The set list was short and sharp last night, their sound is definitely becoming more and more set as the continue playing live, they’re becoming masters of the instruments. Orlando’s voice is still something to hear, something different to the indie masses as the moment, a deadpan juttering delivery that hints at a dark and broken heart beneath it.

The interview with him before hand went well to. My tape recorder even worked, I’ve not got to transcribe it! Orlando came across really well, they genuinly seem to be enjoying themselves and feel as though they’re entertaining people. Their songs all mean something to them and hopefully to the listeners, and I came away thinking that they don’t really have a masterplan, they just want to write songs and play to people.

The only disappointment last night was the support acts. I’ve seen New World Record support Howling Bells last year and they don’t really seem to have developed since then. They’re still a perfect first up band though, their music rarely offends, but it’s a bit too safe perhaps, you can almost tell which note and anguished lyric they’re going to perform next. The real disappointment were Good Books. I’d heard good things about these guys and none of it rang true. They sounded like they were ripping off every act from the 80’s from 10CC to Tears for Fears, I felt really let down and left very cold but the experience. Time to avoid the NME hype I feel.

Links
www.myspace.com/themaccabees
www.myspace.com/goodbooks
www.myspace.com/newworldrecorduk