Brand New
Live at Leeds Festival 2007 on Saturday, 25th August 2007
So my day started off heading to the NME stage to see up and coming Swedish bans The Sounds. Their blend of electro-rock goes down very well with the crowd and their set soon begins to attract a number of passers by into the tent. Overall it was a pretty professional set. 3/5
As I had nothing to do I thought I'd accompany a few friends to The Long Blondes (a group which admittedly, being uncool, I know nothing about). They weren't bad, they seemed to have massive fan base yet I didn't see anybody whooping, hollering or punching the air, it was all a bit casual. Maybe they should have been the first band on that day. 3/5
Next were Gogol Bordello, loved by millions and critically acclaimed all over the world. I feel their blend on Gypsy Punk would have been better if I knew any of it and just knew this could possibly have been an amazing show if I did know any of it. But I sat back and watched, and yes in some places they did get a little complacent but they were fun overall. 4/5
After a break to eat and neck down some alcohol pronto I headed off to The Subways. The return of The Subways was absolutely amazing. They had it all, the new songs which are faster and heavier and basically kick ass and the old songs which are heavy yet melodic. The re-emergence of The Subways only reminds you more why you missed them and why they're worth keeping an eye out for.
Lastly I saw Brand New. I was very excited to see this band as I do love their stuff on record. Lead singer Jesse Lachey comes out like a hero to the people present tonight, like a modern Kurt Cobain, he's even as depressing. The set is wonderful, just filled with songs full of his pain in which with every line the crowd only empathise more and more. I felt this set was a little too steered towards the new album, as the band only took out a few minutes play some older stuff. 4/5
