– THE RITZ, MANCHESTER –
It’s fair to say that the Little Comets aren’t so little anymore. Since the release of their sprightly debut album ‘In Search Of Elusive Little Comets’, the Newcastle based outfit have been flying up festival bills and packing out bigger rooms on every tour, so it comes as no surprise that tonight finds them headlining one of Manchester’s larger music venues, The Ritz as part of their biggest UK tour to date!
Our only support act this evening comes in the form of Irish indie rock quarter ‘General Fiasco’ who rip through a 30 minute set of perfect hook laden pop songs, balancing songs between the youthful fm rock of debut album ‘Buildings’ with the more accomplished, polished rock pop tones of new album ‘Unfaithfully Yours’. They’re tight, sharp, bursting with big choruses and act as a perfect warm up.
Arriving on stage with their now compulsory washing line of percussion in place, Little Comets treat us to an hour long set, expertly combing tracks from their well-loved debut and their brand spanking new album ‘Life Is Elsewhere’ which was released this week! Like support act General Fiasco, Little Comets haven’t made a radically different sounding record they’ve just tightened up the screws and concentrated even more on harmonies and melodies to create a more dynamic, defined and bigger sounding set than before. Both albums seem to work really well together, as they go from the epic pop of early single ‘Isles’ to the staccato pop of latest single ‘A Little Opus’, which is one of the finest singles I’ve heard all year with its excellently intricate guitar and a great big harmonious chorus.
It’s really refreshing to see a crowd genuinely excited about hearing some new songs, I guess with the album being only a day old, everyone is really getting into ‘Life Is Elsewhere’ and I for one am really pleased to hear the soft grooves of ‘Bayonne’ and the white man funk of previous single ‘Worry’ which is sets the whole Ritz into a dancing frenzy. But of course it’s the tracks of their debut that really set the venue alight with the groovy afro-beat pop of ‘Tricolour’, ‘One Night in October’ and the now advert bothering ‘Dancing Song’ all being greeted with dance-mosh-pits (you heard me right) and huge sing a longs which the band all seem really taken back by as they grin lovingly at the crowd, banging on pots, pans and tambourines from the washing line above them that helps re-create the massively percussive rhythm section.
The band close with the last two songs off the new record, ‘Woman Woman’ which is a lovely ballad with a soulful chorus and ‘In Blue Music We Trust’ which is quite the epic, climaxing in crashing drums and vigorous guitar strums. I can’t help but think that the night would of ending on an ultimate high if they finished with ‘Dancing Song’ but with this shiny new album under their belts, it seems fair enough that the band choose to close on a crescendo. All in all a delightful evening, two brilliant young guitar pop bands doing what they do best with absolute precision and conviction. The only way is up.
I joined the Silent Radio family near the very start of my move to Manchester in 2012 and I'm still having the best time! During my stay here I've been in two noisy bands, had a not so noisy solo project, made a zine, started a blog and started a radio show. It's been productive to say the least and it's all been intersperse with a shit load of gig going and beer drinking. I would love it if you followed me on twitter @dr_brainless for excitable tweets about playing, watching and living new music.
