Leafeater
Live at Pennington's (Bradford) on Thursday, 21st February 2002
Leafeater are on top form tonight, showcasing tunes from their eagerly awaited debut album which they are releasing in April on their own label GAK Records. And from the sounds of it it's going to be a stonker.
Leafeater play bubblegum rock and have the most catchiest songs in the world that possess a high altitude factor, for example 'Another Night' and 'Inspiration' are real floor bouncers that'll have you jumping around like rabbits in mating season. Leafeater may sound like sugary punk pop but there is some cranking riffage behind that pop exterior which sees the band blending the finest things in rock together in one outfit.
"We're Leafeater from Bradford" frontman Kes jests, it seems we will never escape those Terrorvision clichés. Delving deep into the vaults they pull out some oldies like 'She's so fine' and 'Gonna leave this girl', which incidentally was never recorded but really should have been.
Leafeater are a really good-humoured band with a light-hearted approach to their music and themselves embracing a strong desire to entertain. The crowd is encouraged to take part in hand clapping sessions and even the people at the back who are 'too cool to clap' eventually relent and join in. As well as a strange 'fingers in the air' exercise, as opposed to putting your hands in the air I suppose (I told you we couldn't get away from TV!) "We might be fast, we might be punk and we might be metal but we're gonna play a ballad", states Kes. 'One fine Day' holds similarities to Feeder's 'High' and offers a chance to get your breath back. We are treated to more familiar friends with 'Annabel', a storming 'Big Bad Moma' and the infamous 'Lapdancer' complete with audience participation.
Leafeater are gifted with happy-go-lucky funtime tunes, sing-a-long choruses, breakneck tempos and an energetic stage presence to boot, what more do you need? Their songs are more infectious than the common cold, like 'Top of the world' and 'This love' that make dwellings in your head and refuse to leave.
Then for the Grande finale they give us a taste of 'Classic Rock' with an outstanding rendition of AC/DC's 'Highway to Hell' that Angus Young would have been proud of.
Leafeater's shows really pack a punch getting you intoxicated on get-up-and-go songs and a fun filled set that makes you leave with a huge smile on your face. They are the best anti-depressant and have no side effects - except for an overwhelming desire to do it all again. They have received comparisons to the likes of Greenday but the closest thing I can compare them to is The Jellys, which is definitely NOT a bad thing.
Bradford's finest? Move over Terrorvision, Leafeater are the new kings in town!