This City are the perfect band to kick off tonight’s
proceedings. They are fresh faced, full of energy,
and can write awesome songs. Despite the Academy
3 only being a quarter full (and that’s
being generous) by the time they clamber onto
the stage, they throw themselves around with gusto
and make sure everyone is having a good time.
Their set is heavily laced with songs off their
debut album ‘We Were Like Sharks’
and tracks such as ‘We Move’ and ‘With
Loaded Guns’ sound fantastic. This City
are certainly a band to look out for in 2010.
In the past few years the world has witnessed
a surge in the reformation of previously defunct
bands. Gary Barlow and co have been on tour with
a huge mechanical elephant, New Kids on the Block
are back and are no longer kids, and Blur have
pulled themselves out of retirement (and cheese
making) to take the Brit-pop crown once more.
Whilst I am not denouncing the importance of the
reunions of such mavericks, none are personally
more exciting than the welcome return of ‘A’.
In the four years that have passed since ‘A’
were last seen embarking on headline tours across
the UK, quite a lot has happened within their
ranks. Singer Jason Perry has made his name as
a top producer working with acts such as McFly,
Kids In Glass Houses and The Blackout. Former
bassist Daniel P Carter is the host of Radio 1’s
Rock Show and drummer Adam Perry has been jetting
around the world with the Bloodhound Gang. Yet
it is their love of ‘A’ that has brought
all but one of them back to the Academy 3 tonight.
Tonight’s set comprises of all the songs
you would hope and expect to hear at this type
of gig. ‘A’ intertwine their oldest
and newest hits seamlessly, broken up by excellent
crowd banter by Perry. One thing that is striking
about ‘A’ is that after all this time
of being apart, it still seems effortless; being
stood in the Academy 3 tonight, it could easily
be 2004 again. Songs such as ‘I Love Lake
Tahoe’ are played with just as much enthusiasm
as they were ten years ago and ‘Nothing’,
the track ‘A’ are arguably best known
for, sounds absolutely huge.
Whilst most members of ‘A’ are fast
approaching, or have already reached the grand
old age of forty, they do not show any signs of
hanging up their instruments in favour of a pipe
and slippers just yet. Perry’s arms are
flailing, ‘Old Folks’ still doesn’t
seem autobiographical and they throw themselves
wholeheartedly into their performance, all with
huge smiles across their faces. Whilst tonight’s
opening band This City may have energy in mass,
they could certainly learn a thing or two from
Jason Perry and co.
As I have previously mentioned, Jason Perry is
a master of crowd banter, but perhaps the most
poignant thing he touches upon tonight is that
‘A’ are doing this only for themselves
and the people in the room. Tonight is like one
big party, and if your name isn’t on the
guest list, then this is one party that you’ve
missed out on.
This City 5/5
A 5/5
Review By Ben Connell
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