Date: Monday 19 May, 9.30pmVenue: Club Academy
Face Value: £12.00 plus admin fees
Support Act: Blah Blah Blah (yes, they really are called that)
Gig buddy: Phil
Now, I'm a fan of Little Man Tate. Their first album is brilliant - all killer, no filler. It's rocking, has great melodies, fabulous riffs, a sound that is solid and clever lyrics. Plus I've seen them before, so I was keen as mustard to get back and hear their musical stylings again. Especially since there is a new single in the offing AND they are playing in a better venue than last time.
We miss the support acts and arrive in time for a drink before it starts. I'm a little put off from the get-go because the intro music they play is awkwardly cut off by the lead guitar mid way and there sounds like a couple of sound problems in the way of feedback. Nevermind, the boys seem energized for a good gig. Unfortunately energy doesn't translate into a good gig - or at least not on this occasion. Part of the problem is that the songs, while great, are mostly from the new album and I'm told at the merchandise stand it won't be out for a couple of months. Yes, months. It's clear that the crowd (several people moshing down the front) are crazy about the first album but also haven't heard any of the new stuff, which makes up more than half of the show. The second issue I have with the gig is that they played for not much more than 40 minutes. Seriously. We paid, right?? Thirdly, the band stop to convey to the crowd how awful (I'm being polite) their previous record company are and encourage people to steal the old album if they don't have it. Clearly someone got ripped off when they signed a record deal then.
My last bug bear with the evening is that a lot of the new songs sounded quite a bit like the old ones. I've heard of recycling and I'm fully in support of the 'green movement' but I think this is an area that we don't need to economise on. Really.
So, on the whole, not fantastic, but yeah I'll buy the new album.
Rating: 3 and a half - extra half point for the lead singer going for a full stage dive at the end during the final song.
