Posted by Benjamin Forrester on Sunday, December 15, 2013
– THE RITZ, MANCHESTER –
It’s about this time in the musical calendar that everyone starts looking to the New Year; from new bands to new records, everyone’s getting their tips in. This time last year, Brummy-based quartet Peace were one of those tipped for big things with their retro blend of indie and pop and had spent most of the year touring hard and releasing belting singles.
Here we are a year on, and they’ve released one of the best guitar-pop records of the year and are currently packing out big rooms on their biggest UK tour to date. As the kids of Manchester bounce around the Ritz, asking older looking kids to buy them a beer, two fresh faced brothers step on to the stage to open the show up in a flurry of feedback and riffs. The band are question are Sheffield two piece Drenge who have also had an excellent year and made an outstanding debut and sound massive in the room as the crowd throw water around and go nuts to their heavy yet instant brand of rock and roll.
Now that we’re suitably warmed up, Peace stroll on to stage with their cool hair cuts and 90’s garbs and rip into the ‘Madchester-inspired’ funk of ‘Waste Of Paint’. What’s great about to indie pop gigs and bigger venues, is the sheer energy of the crowd, every song here tonight starts and ends with an incredible cheer, there’s a mosh pit for nearly every song and everyone in attendance sings their hearts out, particularly on smash hit singles such as ‘Follow Baby’ and ‘Love Sick’. We are also treated to some new jams this evening, which carry a real swagger to them, rich in melody and catchiness; which is a sign that Peace aren’t going to be a one album wonder.
After rousing renditions of nearly every song off the brilliant ‘In Love’, the crowd are left hungry for more, hardly tired. Luckily, the band promptly get back on stage for an encore, with three really great tunes to end the set. They re-enter with the Beach Boys influenced summer ballad ‘California Daze’, then smash out a cracking cover of Wham crimbo classic ‘Last Christmas’ before ending triumphantly on future indie classic ‘Bloodshake’ which is full of groove and life than was when it exploded into our ears late last summer. Tonight feels like Peace really are in the position to go anywhere from here, after a show like that full of massive tunes and excitable crowds, the end of this year is looking just as promising and bright for them as it did last year.
Peace Official | Facebook | Twitter | Youtube
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.
– THE RITZ, MANCHESTER –
