Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Brit Music Scene

Brit Music Scene

Maximo Park Gig Review - Manchester Academy | In Support Of Quicken The Heart

Posted: 25 May 2009 05:54 PM PDT

Maximo Park have been around for a few years now, and have released three studio albums during that time. The band are currently on a UK tour to support their new album, Quicken The Heart, and I went to see them live at the Manchester Academy on May 23.

I’ve seen Maximo Park play live on three different occasions, once after they’ve just released each album. It’s very interesting, to me at least, to chart their progress in that time. A lot has changed in the space of four years.

The first was in Leeds on an NME tour after A Certain Trigger debuted, when they were the middle act of a bill which included The Cribs and saw Kaiser Chiefs headlining. The second was in Manchester just after Our Earthly Pleasures was released, and this time makes three.

The biggest change I’ve noted is how much the fans have changed. They began as young, hip fans who align themselves to the latest NME band but are now a fair bit older and, it has to be said, a fair bit more raucous.

It’s kind of like the Arctic Monkeys disease, where a band unfortunately picks up a certain legion of fans that are aggressive, at gigs to get pissed and possibly have a fight, and generally spoil the atmosphere.

This gig had a good atmosphere but it always felt on the verge of spilling over from intense jollity to insane folly. I just hope I’m not at the Maximo Park gig when this line becomes blurred and all hell breaks loose.

Another noticeable change is one of image. Maximo Park used to be a band all dressed up and known for a certain look. Now, they all (except lead singer Paul Smith) wear t-shirts and jeans and look a tad more casual.

The gig itself was great - Maximo Park played a good selection of old and new songs, Smith was vocal throughout, and the energy levels both on and off stage were electric. The only downside was a poor sound system which resulted in too much bass ruining a few songs.

Do I prefer the Maximo Park of old or the Maximo Park of new? I’d have to go for the old, when the fans were different, the look felt more unique, and the songs were a little less mainstream-oriented than they now are.

Having said that, this gig was enjoyable, with each song enthralling the crowds and being sung back to the stage at full volume.

[Photo Source: Newscom]

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Share This


at 5:22 AM