Reviewed on 21st January 2010.

Secret Circuits

Live at The Elbow Room on Friday, 15th January 2010

Every Friday night, the Elbow Room presents 'Form'. The night at the Pool Club that often showcases local bands.

Although it was Scottish band Airspiel that kicked off the night. The band seemed to start early, something that rarely happens at any gig. A lively opener failed to engage the poor crowd on the small stage.

Good songs were overshadowed by over-zealous bass drum fills on their electronic drum kit in an attempt to sound like Indie Disco.

'Freerider' showed their skill for harmony but at times even Airspiel's guitar solos seemed formulaic.

Local three piece band Tiny Giants drew a bigger crowd with sing along Lad Rock tunes including a catchy 'Na Na Na No' on "Never Coming Back". Utterances that famous Leeds band Kaiser Chiefs have previously worked to their advantage. It was another tight set, just like Airspiel before them. Even after the frontman proclaimed his 'guitar is knackered' before it was 'fixed' moments later.

Asking 'Does anyone have a plectrum?' isn't the best start to a set but that's what happened to Manchester band Echodeck with technical problems delaying their start. When they did get going, Echodeck tried to sound like an experimental Kasabian on songs like '*S*T*A*R*S' but failed. The Electronic drums and greasy fringes didn't blend together as the frontman tried desperately to show some Manchester swagger of bands such as Oasis.

Headliner Secret Circuits' vocals started a bit sketchy but the songs quickly burst into life. Mixing Enter Shikari Trance type synth sounds with Indie Rock on every song. Talking to the crowd more in-between songs than the other bands helped the crowd warm to them.

On 'The Battle' one of the bass riffs sounds like 'Little Sister' by Queens of the Stone Age. Then on 'This Town' when the synth enters it makes it sound more suited to Clubland.

Moving onto 'Hurricane' elements of Biffy Clyro emerge in the vocals and the guitar. This variety keeps the crowd on their toes.

Somewhat bizarrely, they end on a Take That style ballad, appropriately called 'In Ending'. It is nothing like their other songs but it is a gentle end to a frenetic set.

Ultimately this night proves that with high quality bands like Secret Circuits, followers of the Leeds music scene definitely have nothing to worry about.