And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead @ Leeds Festival 2002
By Katy BushFeaturing on the Main Stage last year, Trail of Dead draw a full crowd in this smaller space, evidencing an unchanged level of support. The band themselves however show a distinct change of image and direction, their sound now much more brooding, melodious and mellow. There is less of the angry spark of the past, with band members tonight singing in harmony to more traditionally-structured songs with commercial love-song themes. This is a poppier set, devoid of the sinister overtones we came to expect but as tightly performed as ever. Only when the set is rounded off with 'A Perfect Teenhood' from the 'Madonna' album is it that the band we saw last year shines through. No 'Mistakes and Regrets' and no stage diving from the Trail of Dead tonight, although a drum kit comes to an unsightly end as the band announces this performance to be its last 'for a long time'.
