Review: Live at Leeds

• Laura Mvula– this was proper proper music, complete with string band and trumpet. Classically trained and extremeley tallented. Yes, she was late which put a downer on the performance but when she came out it all made up for it. Before I thought she was good, now she’s just REALLY bloody fantastic. Sing to the Moon is one to be listened to all day long- a good revision chiller too. 
• AlunaGeorge– as good as expected, maybe better, great live and great fun
• Peace– every single track sounded great as the crowd chanted along to Follow Baby and the new indie anthem Bloodshake. It was an unbelievable end.

Disliked

• Tried to be supportive to our union, so caught the bands who were playing there in the day but we just weren’t hosting the best at all- Castrovalva were just acting like Jack Black in Tenacious D and for Dinosour Pile Up it’s not 1995 anymore so no one cares for Nirvana-esque whining (unless it’s coming from Nirvana)
• China Rats– four local lads described in the Live at Leeds guide with inspiration including “punk’s riotous guitars, 50’s pop and classic British guitar bands” but I can only assume they wandered past a record shop playing The Ramones, and thought they’d spend ten minutes trying to copy them. FUCKING BORING. They were decent musicians and had some stage presence, but I really couldn’t get past the fact I’d heard it all before.
• Kleine Schweine– One of the festivals more unknown performers. Cramming into Milo like the last rugby lad trying to squeeze into Gatecrasher, I found myself right in front of the band. Like I coughed and the mike picked it up. The band started to play. Wow. I don’t know how loud Kleine Schweine normally are, but I felt like it was time to get out.

Could have been better

• Rudimental– rest of the crowd was prettty rank and the sort that chanted ‘YAWWWKKKKSHIRE’, they were also late (massive downer), half the band went to Leeds Met and generally weren’t as good as when I hear a track when I’m dancing round a club… to be honest they were shit
• Post War Glamour Girls– dark mystical indie, nice to stand and chill at the back of, didn’t want to go and buy the t-shirt though… one of the better bands the union had on offer
• Findlay– gritty rock that would probably melt into the background if it weren’t for lead singer Natalie Findlay’s screeching Karen-O (ish) vocals.
• King Krule– much anticipation and the venue (the church) was incredible looking. Unfortunately it didn’t do an awful lot for Krule’s swelling bluesy chords, which easily go lost in the high ceilings. The place was absolutely packed out, so I could just make out his little ginger head bobbing up and down. I can’t help feeling he was deserving of a more intimate venue.

Overall- GREAT value for money, if you love indie music and up and coming artists then this is £20 odd very well spent. Was a bit of a fag running around to all the different venues and can’t imagine anything worse than having to stand queueing for ages if it wasn’t for a press pass. Also was quite alot of grim locals.