Photo: Justin Edwards

DJ Mark E Moon pumps out some indie hits to a depressingly-small crowd of Splendour refugees from the wings of the stage, but there’s little that sets them apart from the usual pre-gig fare at the Zoo. Any showmanship he might possess is lost, given that nobody can see him.

Belles Will Ring are an odd choice for the support slot, given that they play slow-burning MOR rock with an epic bent. New single The Coldest Heart gets some reaction, but it’s apparent that they suffer the same fate as many support bands: being tolerated by a crowd who came to see someone else.

The Long Blondes must be the most punctual band on earth, opening with Lust In The Movies only one minute after their advertised starting time. They look good, too – each outfitted in the band’s trademark vintage gear (vocalist Kate Jackson looks nowhere near as imposing in real life as the band’s photos imply). Their set belts through material from Someone To Drive You Home at a cracking pace, with Screech Louder’s tight drumming keeping the galloping tempo in check, and Jackson belting out the vocals in near-perfect pitch and with appropriate gusto. Appropriately enough for a band labelled ‘glamorous punk’, their set inspires some un-ironic pogoing from the crowd, especially during singles Weekend Without Makeup and Giddy Stratospheres. Their lesser-known material – B-side Five Ways To End It and some recently-written tracks – is equally satisfying, and the band is called back on stage for an encore consisting of Swallow Tattoo and Once And Never Again. Although their set is over in 53 minutes and doesn’t reflect the diversity of their recorded output, it’s a short and electrifying taste of their signature sound that leaves the crowd buzzed – an experience worth skipping Splendour for.

CHAD PARKHILL

Be first to comment on this article

Write Comment
Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged.
Name:
Comment:
Code:*