 |
| The Crookes' George Waite. Pic: Maanik Chadda |
Stoke-on-Trent favourites Moral Panics and fellow South Yorkshire group Hey Sholay had set the tone with confident support.
The local rockers were playing their final show with bassist Charlie Maskrey and were determined not to disappoint with a chilling acapella ending to Voids and a passionate-as-always rendition of addictive riff-based song Move Your Feet.
Following their successful mosh-pit at the Hippy Horror Festival in Blythe Bridge last weekend, the boys enjoyed a calmer response from the crowd.
Although a risky shortened cover of LMFAO’s Party Rock Anthem was off-putting, they swiftly moved on to leave you with that typical Moral Panics uncontrollable urge to sing ‘and all the talking…’ in your head over and over again.
Hey Sholay impressed without ever really surprising. Their solid set was pleasant but never broke the boundaries they always seemed capable of going through.
They play a self-described “breed of psychedelic independent pop with a hint of the Northern Lights captured in a jam jar”. That twinkle in the sky was slightly blurred, but was still there.
Liam Creamer’s stunning vocals were at the forefront of a wonderfully balanced performance which deservedly maintained the attention of many.
The band are supporting The Crookes for the following two weeks after becoming great friends and competitors.
 |
| Hey Sholay's Liam Creamer. Pic: Maanik Chadda |
“There’s a fierce rivalry,” he joked.
The Crookes’ Drummer Russell Bates was pleased to have them on the bill too.
“They’re bloody great and they’re top lads,” he said. “So we thought ‘let’s take them on tour’.”
Although the crowd were perhaps not as lively as those at some of the recent European shows the headliners have played, The Crookes put on a fine display.
The four-piece caught the ears of the crowd with their catchy riffs and built-up guitar and drum combinations while George Waite’s effortless vocals captivated the audience, particularly during an acapella intro.
Particular audience highlights included Bloodshot Days and George’s hair thrashing over the microphone.
The most poignant moment of the night was at first the most confusing.
One by one The Crookes strolled down the steps to take centre stage of the dance floor to perform an appealing acoustic number.
All four sang harmonies while the surrounding crowd stared in awe, clapping along to its crescendo.
They also provided a consistency of electricity between band members and the ability to make enough fans rock lightly from front to back, and occasionally even from side to side.
Click below to see more images from the gig:
No comments:
Post a Comment