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– THE NIGHT & DAY CAFE, MANCHESTER –

The first band to take to the stage tonight at The Night & Day Café, are Apache Beat. This five-piece from Brooklyn, New York, fronted by the Siouxsie Sioux-esque Ilirjana Alushaj, give us a short but powerful set of their punk-wave style.

Even though Ilirjana is a fixating character in the forefront, it is hard not to be amazed by drummer Angus Tarnawsky tucked away in the back, who gives an amazing performance from start to finish.

Next up, is Kyte, flying the flag for the U.K on tonight’s American led line-up. These boys from Leicestershire have more than once been likened to early Sigur Rós, which is hard to disagree with. Their shoegaze post rock has a sound that would not be out of place in much larger venues, or maybe even arenas.

The B-side to their 2007 debut single,Boundaries, was used for a trailer in the U.S for the highly acclaimed series, The Sopranos. To be associated with such a show in any way, no matter how small, can only be seen as something special.

As the boys finish their set and start packing up, there is a slight frenzy as our headline act, are at the same time attempting to set up. This we are informed, is due the late return of their equipment being loaned to Five O’clock Heroes.

So at a later than advertised on-stage time, Benjamin Curtis and the Deheza twins, are ready, as are the crowd at this sold out gig. The temperature in this hotter than the sun venue has now risen immensely, even so, the gorgeous twins are looking cooler than ever. The two white guitars stand out like spots on a domino on the all black clothed band members.

During the first song, there seems to be a little trouble with the sound, as the feed back threatens to pierce many an ear drum of the audience. This is quickly fixed as they enter in to the empyrean melodies of their single, Iamundernodiguis, which is included on the newly released debut album, Alpinisms.

The previous single, Half Asleep, is also given an airing. Both of these where performed live in session the previous day for BBC 6 Music, where they have been a permanent fixture on the playlist of recent months.

Towards the end of this all too short show, one of the twins enquires “Is there anywhere to go after the show?” with a few suggestions of “Back to mine” from some of the puppy-eyed, wishful thinking male members of the crowd. It now looks like the heat may be getting the three band members as they leave the stage, but after several minutes of chants for more, they return to perform one more song and then it is over.

It is now time for us to leave the dream like state The School of Seven Bells have provided this evening and head home.

Simon Zaccagni

Post By Simon Zaccagni (74 Posts)

‘Accidental Editor’ of Silent Radio from its inception in 2009 through to 2020. None of this was planned; I’ve never been in a band, never been part of the ‘music scene’ and never expected to be the gaffer of a music website with loads of dedicated music loving writers. I bought my first record when I was 8 and haven’t stopped buying since. I love crate digging for bizarre and weird stuff, but equally happy ploughing through press releases looking/listening for something I’ve never heard before.