Mercury Rev, Leeds Academy

halfaperson · Mercury Rev, Leeds Academy

Mercury Rev have been playing Leeds for at least 15 years. From The Old Duchess to the massive Leeds/Reading Fest. They’ve always been a brave band, never afraid to evolve and experiment and never ones to court critical or popular acclaim. It was the utterly stupendous Deserters Songs that catapulted them into the Indie Mainstream. I think it was Qs or NMEs album of the year and it is amongst the greatest pieces of music ever imho. Garp if you havent herad it check it out mate i think youd love it

So after H2 cried off with a severe dose of women flu Rolling Eyes

I was left alone to enjoy the delights of LS1 hostelries last Thursday as afternoon mooched through tea time into the night on a solo session. First off The Taps, then Whitelocks, Becketts, The Northern Monkey (scum free zone Laughing

), on to the Vic. and into the Academy suitably refreshed and receptive.

Timed it just right this time after a deliberate decision to enjoy the Monkey and Vic rather than take a risk on the support band. It was only a half full academy with the majority a people over thirty but im guessing all fans. I had to laugh at the bar while the roadies were preparing the stage to some dreamy background music. A young lad asked me if these were the band cos hes heard they’re a bit weird and thought this was part of the act. I know what he meant, as I said earlier they are a bit errrr experimental.

They came on 9.30 ish to a low key reception but that is how it is with Mrev and their fans. No moshing, no fist clenching singalongs just a familiar nod that you’d give a mate.

They got straight into one off the new album that has only just been released and it was obvious JD and the band was excited by the new stuff. They were bang on it and putting great intensity into it. New songs sometimes don’t hack it straight away live so it was a good balancing act to follow some of them immediately with a established old one. To me they got it just right. A perfect balance of letting the new album stuff breathe in the live arena whilst been supported with the maturity of the classics. To their immense credit they put as much into the old ones as they did the new songs.

After the Elbow gig sound/timing disappointment i got a bit nearer the front where the sound was perfect. JD stomping around the stage like a deranged orchestral conductor beckoning the rest of the band on. The lights though not spectacular made a perfect accomplice to the bands spectacular peaks of aural assault. From simplistic rhymes delivered with childlike glee to full on belting crescendos Jonathan Donahue treats each gig like an outpouring of his soul when hes on top of his game like he was Last Thursday. I get the impression he feeds off the audiences’ connection. I wouldn’t say the academy crowd were raucous but there were times when you could sense the captivation they were in, especially when the Deserters songs classics came at them. It must be hard for a band to continually deliver the brilliant old songs when they believe so much in the new material but Mrev did it with real love and intensity. It’s this sort of band/audience mutual respect i reckon always produces the best gigs and this was one of the best ive seen.

If all this seems a bit progrock then i guess that’s exactly what it is. The band played three covers by Pink Floyd, New Order and Talking heads which is a perfect three point reference for them. Then it was some more off the new album including brilliant senses on fire before a finale of the dramatic Dark Is Rising which saw JD forlorn at the front of the stage delicately stroking out the words arms in strong man pose recalling the dreams of being strong. I fecking love this band, probably more than a grown up should and five days later im still a little bit up on it.

Garp

Thanks for the steer. Will do some research Cool

raveydavey

Thats all very well, but did were they any good? I can't stand these reviewers who sit on the fence... Wink

Baldy