The MaccabeesBarfly, London
Thursday, 5th March 2009
"Dear friend of mine is/testing his body/tempting disaster, testing water." The Maccabees are back in London to put their cards on the table. It's been a long time since they captured affection with their tales of childhood camaraderie and local anthems. Well, it's clear from the moment they walk onstage, it's all on the line; a new album in the offing, songs to try out, minds to readjust, friends to reacquaint. Things have changed.
Orlando Weeks, the lead singer, would look faintly ridiculous with his new heavily gelled hair if he didn't appear so piercingly driven. His glazed focus blazes below the mic in his steely grip, claiming ownership of the song as No Kind Words begins. It sounds so utterly his, a change of direction to a darker climate, cold and unforgiving and more than a mere splash in a swimming pool.
The Maccabees were already a good group, but this is a statement of intent to leave that behind, to become a great band. The other members simply look delighted to be back on stage, guitarist Felix White guffawing and leaping with glee as the sparse lyricism surrounds him.
It's an atypical setup as they progress though a couple of new tracks, Orlando donning a guitar more than usual to make a three-pronged attack and the five-piece adding some frivolity to the intensity. The release is evident after their lengthy break and the crowd is happy to share it.
What they are really waiting for is something to scream back at the band and it arrives with X-Ray. Weeks sings it with disdain but the audience are oblivious, moving the creaky upstairs floorboards of Barfly in a prolonged surge of energy.
As they continue the oldies with Precious Time and Lego, the atmosphere is charged and looks of happy abandon abound, a marked divergence from the mix of scorn and smiles on stage, Orlando dismissing the pay off line of Lego with a grin.Young Lions is another broodier newbie, though there is room for harmonies and whoops in other songs from upcoming album Wall of Arms. The altered course they have taken is an intelligent one, not dismissing their old material but breaking through it with refreshed outlooks and loftier intentions.
As First Love is followed by a similar new closer that usurps it momentarily, full of heroically minor, sharp romanticism, The Maccabees depart. It has only been half hour, but 30 breathless, intriguing minutes have confirmed them as, with an album and five years already behind them, the best new band in the country right now.
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