This Et Al @ Faversham
By Luke Ramsden
Already widely regarded as one of the most musically gifted and technically astute bands currently holed up in Leeds, tonight was another night where the immaculately attired red and black attack upped it a gear and unleashed holy hell all over another set of baiting followers and potential converts. This Et Al's world is one without raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens and instead the moon is high, the rain is harsh and the streets are darkened. This Et Al are the definitive soundtrack to your worst nightmare and your greatest fear. And you wouldn't want it any other way.
Voltage Union on the other hand couldn't be much more different. High octane sparkling indie-pop from pillar to post. Gratefully Voltage Union do it much better than most others plying the well overused indie trade at the moment. The likes of 'On Your Marks' and 'Seaside' would sound great in a beer garden somewhere a few months down the line but tonight, in the very least, Voltage Union raise spirits and get a decent reception.
A hint of gloom seemingly cascades over the Fav as This Et Al slide on stage in preparation for what has to be one of their finest shows to date. Finally they seem to have a set of grade A, quality songs to fill their whole set. The This Et Al songs that either descend entirely into the realms of post-rock or seem entirely incomprehensible have been erased and now in their place, the kind of songs that guarantee to have either a chorus, guitar hook or monstrous trademark crushing descent into musical magnitude to make voices sing, feet shimmy and heads sway. This Et Al are on top form tonight and the not quite sold out Faversham are responsive throughout. The conclusion of the set is as good as any band in Leeds right now. The early release of the sublime 'The Loveliest Alarm' is somehow surpassed by the triumphant double bill of 'You've Driven For Miles...' and 'He Shoots Presidents' to bring the show to a close. The atmospherics have been fine-tuned to their optimum level and the tracks are now there to match. If you want more bite for your indie guitar pound, This Et Al is all you'll ever need. Great band.
