The Pigeon Detectives @ Leeds Town Hall
By Rachel Wilson
The Big Fight; Could two support acts be more different? Round One, Micky P Kerr vs. Air Traffic. Ding Ding Ding.
The first punch came from Micky P Kerr. Having seen him only a week previously at The Faversham supporting Reverend and The Makers I was pleased to see his name on the line up for tonight. Beginning in his usual way with a poem - this one about 'pulling' - before inviting "The Dudes" on stage for some musical accompaniment, Micky P had the crowd in the palm of his hand from the get go. Micky P constantly changes and mixes up his musical style from folk to hip hop overtones, showing a versatility lacking in many of his peers. Poems seem to be the favourites but a rendition of the new single Susan May was also met with rapturous applause. I can't deny I was more than a little disappointed when it all had to end and Micky P Kerr led his Dudes off stage.
To the bar. I was pleasantly surprised to see a whole host of familiar faces pulling the ring pulls behind tonight's temporary bar; the guy with the big hair who I always see at Bad Sneakers and, wait, isn't that guy out of the Grammatics? Either way it didn't do much to take the sting out of the £3 can of Strongbow's tail. If I wasn't having such a good time I would have put up more of a protest but in the name of fun I decided to waive my grievances and just get on with the task at hand.
Round Two. Up next were Air Traffic, a piano led indie rock quartet from Bournemouth. These young whippersnappers contributed yet another brand of musical styling to the melting pot with tunes that reeked of Muse and had anthem written all over them.
It wasn't just the name alone that drew me in for tonight's musical feast - The Pigeon Detectives are undeniably at the top of their game right now with new single "I'm Not Sorry" getting national airplay, but coupled with the opportunity to see them in Leeds Town Hall, I would have been a fool to miss out. The venue itself is beautiful and grand yet still small enough to feel intimate - something other local venues such as The Met and The Refectory lack.
However, after a rather too long wait and an increasingly restless (and might add almost entirely male) crowd I was rather keen to see the name alone... or the name at all for that matter.
The Pigeon Detectives were however well worth the wait. The atmosphere was wonderful with people jumping up and down, and in many cases around, throughout the set. Their were cries of "Yorkshire" from every corner of the building and people seemed to be having so much fun they even managed to ignore lead singer Matt's rubbish Nelly joke (yes it is very hot but I'd prefer it if nobody took of their clothes thank you very much). An energetic set ended with new single "I'm Not Sorry" before the boys disappeared encore-less - well they'd said it all I guess. Very well put.
