Spyres explode into 2022 with ‘See Through You’ upon signing to LAB Records

With sixteen stages to choose from at Live at Leeds Festival 2021, and a plethora of emerging talent, only a select hundred or two would’ve found themselves at Leeds Beckett’s makeshift second stage at the relatively early hour of 3pm. Yet, the next half an hour was a rather defining moment for Glasgow alt-rockers Spyres. By the end of their set, they had secured themselves a record deal.

Mark Orr of LAB Records, like the majority of the audience, saw enough to be blown away by the versatility of the four musicians on stage. Spyres’ discography to date has showcased very different sides to the band, with an underlying theme of energy and unstoppable songwriting that has made each chorus even more memorable. Their latest anthem, ‘See Through You’, keeps them firmly on that path, with the catchiest of choruses evoking vivid memories of that Live at Leeds performance back in October.

The vocal chemistry of lead duo Emily Downie and Keira McGuire is one of the band’s most unique assets, with the partnership as fiery as ever in this ‘direct and punchy’ new single, as described by Downie. ‘See Through You’ was crafted in Glasgow’s Castle of Doom Studios with Christopher Marshall; an instant formula for success given the amount of recent Scottish talent under his belt – Gerry Cinnamon and Dead Pony to name a few. 

As ever, the drum tone is slick and powerful, with Alex White and bassist Jude Curran providing a masterful rhythm section that delicately complements the track’s changes of pace. The chorus has almost a nostalgic, pop-punk feel to it, especially when Downie and McGuire soar into the highest of harmonies towards the climax of the song. When you consider the duo’s acoustic roots, the effect of Curran and White cannot be understated in lifting their epic sound, which is ready made for the biggest stages.

Spyres have tested these waters, showcasing their live set to the likes of Glasgow’s Barrowlands and TRNSMT Festival. With this new, exciting era at LAB Records, the only way is if each new release continues to be this consistent and captivating. ‘See Through You’ is out now via LAB Records – keep posted for news on Spyres’ upcoming debut EP and a filmed interview with Leeds Student TV which will be released in the coming months.

Enter Shikari rise from strength to strength in masterful Leeds show

Setting the bar, sustaining it, and regularly raising the roof – Enter Shikari’s longevity speaks volumes for why they should be seen as the model target for the rock and metal scene. With a ferocious undercard of Dinosaur Pile-Up and Nova Twins, they finally brought their expansive Nothing Is True And Everything Is Possible tour to O2 Academy Leeds.

After seeing them in festival tents, record stores and academies during the era of The Spark, I was intrigued to see how Shikari would level up their live show, a challenge that drummer Rob Rolfe told me is always in the back of their minds when I interviewed him back in May (check out the interview here). Keeping the feel of the room ‘as small as possible’ is a task that Shikari always seem to complete with flying colours, even in the context of Leeds’ second largest venue.

Opening with their kicking anthem ‘THE GREAT UNKNOWN’ and a full dose of confetti, they had the whole venue bouncing as frontman Rou Reynolds effortlessly sauntered around the stage, donning purple sunglasses that perfectly accompanied the band’s effervescent lighting rig.

Shikari’s setlist ramped up another level in the second half, with their seamless transitions from ‘Gandhi Mate, Gandhi’ into ‘Mothership’ and then ‘Solidarity’ exhibiting how refined and inch-perfect their live show has become, equilibrated by the raw passion and energy from the band and the crowd. Fan favourite ‘Juggernauts’ made an unusually early appearance in the setlist, alongside the timeless ‘Arguing With Thermometers’ – with Reynolds giving a particular nod to the prevalent climate crisis, a theme that runs throughout the band’s discourse.

As for the new material, Shikari saved singles ‘{ The Dreamer’s Hotel }’ and ‘T.I.N.A.’ until the encore, with the latter manifesting itself into a gargantuan live sound that the studio version teased. The band remained impeccable, whether that be Rolfe’s eclectic time changes in ‘Sorry, You’re Not A Winner’ or guitarist Rory Clewlow’s seamless transitions from monstrous breakdowns into soaring lead melodies. 

Enter Shikari will always prove time and time again why they are top of the tree when it comes to live shows, and they will make their rightful return to the main stage at Leeds Festival 2022, supporting the equally magnificent Bring Me The Horizon on a sold out day. Weekend tickets are on sale here.

Gang of Youths deliver a live show full of energy, supporting Sam Fender

Bursting onto the stage full of energy, Gang of Youths were filled with charisma and passion as they supported Sam Fender at the First Direct Arena. Highlighted by the colourful and exuberant flair of the frontman David Le’aupepe, Gang of Youths rocked the audience with a mix of their old tunes and some fresher songs from their new album (to be released in February 2022). Joining Fender on his penultimate sold-out show, Gang of Youths are lining up well for their headline tour in 2022.

The 5-piece indie rock band started their atmospheric set with The Man Himself, the first single coming from their new album. A song that focusses on themes of grief and growth. Through their use of instrumentation, the group created a hugely textural and atmospheric sound that left the crowd mesmerised and wanting more. Although the live performance of this track is a little more stripped back then the recorded version, it did not fail to touch the heart strings of everybody watching.

Continuing the set with songs such as The Angel of 8th Ave. and The Heart Is a Muscle, Gang of Youths filled the hall with flavoursome soundscapes and subtle hints of indigenous influences. Although the layered soundscapes can become a bit similar after a while, Gang of Youths fight this well with the use of intricate lyrical strands and a passionate delivery from all participants.

With Le’aupepe taking centre stage with his exuberant style, it would have been quite easy for the rest of the group to fade into the background. However, it can’t be denied that they all brought their own individuality and excitement to the set. The rest of Gang of Youths, made up of Jung Kim, Max Dunn, Donnie Borzestowski and Tom Hobden, put their hearts and souls into the performance. All adding to the amazing atmosphere of the lively show.

Along with their intense and energy-ridden songs came the intimacy of songs such as Tend the Garden and Magnolia. Keeping with their musical identity, these songs are filled with sensitivity and pain whilst still creating a more positive sonic scape. In these quitter points of the set, Le’aupepe’s vocal qualities were evermore present. Even though it was clear that the energy of the other tunes had left him breathless, he was still able to use intricate and timid vocal tones to put across the delicacy of the songs. With a sound close to the of Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty, Le’aupepe made sure the audience felt every emotion he was putting across. Gang of Youths finished their set with the song What Can I Do If the Fire Goes Out and were met with a great audience reaction.

After the headline set of Sam Fender, who smashed the set as always, Le’aupepe was asked to come back on stage to sing with Fender on his cover of I’m On Fire by Bruce Springsteen. The addition of this encore worked well and fit both artist’s styles. It was nice to see both artists working together as an end to the show.

Frazey Ford plays Brudenell: cool country for an icy evening

As she strides on-stage, Frazey Ford nonchalantly places her glass of red wine on the speaker positioned next to her and leans over her guitar into the mic. “We’re gonna play some songs,” she says. “That’s how this goes.”

It’s a cool start to an icy night. Many of the crowd, as Ford acknowledges, have faced treacherous roads and slippery pavement to get to the thrice-rearranged gig tonight. After an 18-month wait, both anticipation and expectations are high. Just as well then that the country singer more than exceeds the bar set for her.

The Canadian songstress first garnered acclaim as a founding member of the alt-folk band The Be Good Tanyas  and saw much success throughout the noughties (including headlining the Royal Albert Hall in 2006) before striking out on her own in 2010. Since then, much of her solo work has paired confessional storytelling with soul-tinged Americana to create a catalog that is laidback, comforting yet somehow melancholic.  

Ambling through her setlist, Ford creates a space that feels relaxed and intimate, although there is still a sense that each song is born from a considered place of raw emotion. Switching out her acoustic to sit at her keyboard, her vocals simmer over the soulful grooves of her back band during ‘Azad’, a song dedicated to and named after Ford’s sister. What’s interesting though is that new tracks like these pack as much of a punch as old favourites like empowering breakup anthem ‘Done’ and ‘September Fields’, a lament on life’s purpose marinated in a bouncy swing of interplaying guitars.

The show draws to a close as Ford returns to the keyboard for ‘U Kin B The Sun’, the title track of her most recent album. Through both her honeyed vocals and sweet repartie with the crowd, the singer crafts story after story to begin to weave a picture of her innermost thoughts and feelings. However, Frazey Ford’s biggest strength is being warm enough to draw her audience in while retaining a coolness that keeps us gasping for more.