maccabees / talk taxies / jack penate

Support came first of all from Talk Taxis, four Londonites that show promise of making a dent into the Indie scene over the coming months. I’m not sure if it was their die hard fans getting in there early or just Maccabees fanatics wanting to find their spot in front of the stage - but they played to a seemingly near full house just ten minutes after doors. There were a couple of songs that got the audiences attention which is always a feat for a support act. Next up was a personal favourite of mine, Jack Penate. I don’t ever want Jack or the Maccabees to ever do a gig without the other, as they just compliment each other perfectly, although this may be an unrealistic expectation. Anyway. Penate’s genre fusing, energy packed songs get the audience warmed up a treat. The dancing in the aisles and crowd surfing has already begun. And who wouldn’t dance - when Mr Penate puts in such a sterling hip wiggling performance himself. If you have never seen Jack’s dancing I insist you check it out on Youtube, MTV2 or simply at a gig right now – it’s quite the impressive spectacle. The enthusiasm is second to none. All the Myspace favourites including ‘Second Minute Or Hour’, ‘Spit At Stars’ and ‘Torn On The Platform’ whizz by, with every word sang back from the bobbing crowd. Before you know it Jack’s girating moves are all but a memory. And so for the headliners. I think we’ve all grasped who I’m talking about now. The Maccabees!!!!! Taking to the stage to a cacophony of wolf whistles, with their boyish good looks, they are 2007’s answer to the boybands of the 90s. Obviously with a lot more musical credibility, no silly dance routines and far greater names. Starting with singles ‘Colour It In’ and the infamous ‘Latchmere’, their music portfolio is hell-bent on presenting its audience with at least one bit they can’t get out of their head. Comparisons of indie frontmen to Ian Curtis are becoming a little cliché of late, but Orlando is hauntingly like the Joy Division star. He has the hair, nonchalance, the physicality and the epileptic dance moves that make the likeness seem no accident. The other band members keep their heads down throughout, apart from guitarist Felix who revels in instigating audience singalongs and is a pleasure to watch. Their relentless touring schedule has clearly paid off as this homecoming tour finale shows the tightness of their sound. Aside from the songs about quirky subjects they’ve also got their fair share of cracking love songs; ‘About Your Dress’ being a prime example. With every stop - start riff and touching lyric they seem to simultaneously break hearts and ribs, as not a member of the audience can refrain from flailing their bodies around. Having been bubbling under the surface of mainstream for some time now, their entire set consists of well-polished anthems that have been fine tuned to reach every crevice of the Astoria venue. ‘Toothpaste Kisses’ serves as a 1930s inspired interlude before the second half of their mighty set and the sublime finale, ‘First Love’ left the crowd wanting more. If you haven’t already, go and get their album, Colour It In, now!