This years NME Tour line up was yet again filled with the best up and coming acts alongside an amazing headlining duo, Crystal Castles. The four acts hit the road at the beginning of February, and thanks to Alice Glass of Crystal Castles, I was able to attend the Leeds date on the guest list.
The set kicked off with The Vaccines, a band that have exploded onto the music scene this year with their joyous, indie guitar pop. This London band are one of the most talked about acts so far this year, and in my opinion should have been higher up the bill. After an apprehensive start, the bands second single 'Wreckin' Bar (Ra Ra Ra)' turned the crowd into a frenzy of excited, lively bodies. I haven't seen a crowd explode so quickly, especially at a song that lasts only a minute and a half. From then on the rest of the set stayed in motion and The Vaccines' front man looked highly satisfied by Yorkshire's response to their music. Their biggest hit to date, 'Post Break Up Sex', also being their first single, gained an excellent reception from the crowd, with a chorus of voices singing along to the infectious and humorous lyrics.
Second on the line up were Manchester-based art-rockers Everything Everything. Being a fun-fuelled and eccentric act the audience bounced their way through every song. Musically, I think Everything Everything are brilliant, but feel slightly put off by lead singer Jonathan Higgs' vocals. For the sake of being unbiased however, as a whole the group put on an excellent set that continued the energy instilled from The Vaccines' performance. Everything Everything are also set to be big this year and I would recommend listening to 'Photoshop Handsome' or 'My Kz Ur Bf' if you are finding out about the band for the first time.
Next on stage were Magnetic Man, dubstep's first super group consisting of Skream, Benga and Artwork. The trio are dragging the dubstep genre into the mainstream with radio-hogging tracks such as 'I Need Air' and 'Perfect Stranger' featuring Katy B. The atmosphere in the room changed as they arrived on stage and started their set, but most would say this was for the better. The dirty dubstep basslines and electronic glitches filled the room and had everyone moving with their arms in the air. 'I Need Air' gained the best response from the crowd, with the music stopping every time the chorus stated "I Need Air" and a room full of people singing the words back to the trio. Magnetic Man's sound was a great warm up for what was yet to come, the illusive Crystal Castles, with their famed atmosphere and live performance holding everyone in anticipation.
With front woman Alice Glass on crutches, the crowd missed out on her usual leaning into the crowd and diving over them at any given moment, although even though Alice was suffering from a broken ankle she still commanded the crowd and threw herself around the stage more than people would think medically possible in her condition. With the brains of the duo Ethan Kath blasting the almost gothic electronic tracks from the background, Alice delivers the vocals with an eerie and striking persona. After ending up getting trampled by the crowd during their most aggressive song to date 'Doe Deer', I sadly lost all belongings and pictures I had taken, including a video of the duo's opening song and stage entrance prior to an overly apologetic roadie explaining Alice's injury. The crowd atmosphere of every Crystal Castles gig tends to be energetic and somewhat violent at times, causing many people to be walking out with injuries. Luckily I made it through the entire set this time without being rushed away in an ambulance, and it was definitely worth the cuts and bruises that became prominent the next day. After a more relaxed encore, featuring the more mellow (if that is the right word to describe a Crystal Castles track) 'Not in Love' the duo left the stage, leaving behind a sweaty, exhausted and satisfied crowd.
Check out all the artists featured here:
The Vaccines: http://www.myspace.com/thevaccines
Everything Everything: http://www.myspace.com/everythingeverythinguk
Magnetic Man: http://www.myspace.com/magneticman
Crystal Castles: http://www.myspace.com/crystalcastles
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