Saving Lenny @ Carpe Diem
By Andrew LunnAlthough all of tonight's bands are relatively young, its safe to say that when Saving Lenny take to the stage and begin their first song, they're the pick of the bunch.
This show, which coincides with the release of new EP 'Driven To Distraction' certainly has a party like feel to it. The band throw out jelly babies into the crowd and they appear positively radiant onstage.
Early technical difficulties are soon set aside when the band launch into a rousing version of 'Dead And Breakfast'. From the start it's quite clear that Saving Lenny are a 'feel good' band - and they do it well, the audience are loving every minute of this show (which includes a song that sounds suspiciously like 'Happy Days'). As soon as the second song they're bouncing around to the music. The group too seem to be relishing the occasion, as the two saxophonists gleefully jump around the stage and frontwoman Katie banters freely with the audience.
'Reborn' shows the full extent of her impressive vocal talents, as she swoops and swoons over the tune, making an otherwise standard song one of the highlights of the evening. It's this ability, added to her bubbly personality that mark her out as one of the best young frontwomen that are currently around the Leeds circuit right now.
'Sammy's Song' proves to be the one and only low point in the thirteen song set, with impressive but overplayed drums pretty much drowning out the rest of the band. However, this temporary blip is soon redeemed by awesome closer 'Lemonade', which gets the audience whipped up into a complete frenzy on the dancefloor.
It is perhaps only this frenzy that slightly lets the evening down. In a way I felt it undermined the quality of Saving Lenny's songs. Yes - this band are out for a good time, but the songs they write are certainly not as mindless as the violent 'moshing' by few of the audience would suggest. Their songs are certainly competent and intelligent enough to deserve more respect.
Take nothing away from the band though, after tonight's near flawless performance it would be hoped that Saving Lenny were celebrating with a lot more than just lemon flavoured soft drinks...
