Hot Chip @ Leeds Metropolitan University
Date: 18th October 2006
Support: Junior Boys
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There was certainly a buzz surrounding this show. It had been sold out months in advance, something one could put down to the wonderful show put on by Hot Chip at the Carling Festival this year, or the plethora of advertising boards disseminating their latest record 'The Warning. At the aforementioned Leeds leg of the Carling festival, vocalist Alexis Taylor gave a shout-out to Hyde Park in Leeds; another factor that would explain the sell-out crowd if you were to avoid the obvious notion that people just want to see a very, very good band.
However, such a buzz was rebuked during the set of support act, Junior Boys. It always disheartens me when only 5% of a crowd would rather open themselves to unheard music than pointlessly press themselves against other members of the populace whilst queuing for Carling at the bar and, unfortunately for the Canadian Duo, this was the case this evening. Junior Boys’ new record “So This Is Goodbye”, released on Domino Records, is a paradigm of dance music to dilly-dally to; eerie, wistful electronica with pensive vocals aimed at moving even the most resolute listener. Live, it’s more difficult. The few who do watch struggle to pay attention, many merely using the room as an asylum from the bustling bar. Those who did listen appeared to enjoy the Pet Shop Boys-esque synths, sporadic bass and maudlin vocals that combine to solidify Junior Boys circa 1985 sound. Enjoyable, but perhaps out of place amongst a crowd expecting a pre-party party prior to Hot Chip.
The room busied itself as it filled, eager & excited at the promised prospect of the ninety minute revelry that lay ahead. Water & beer is being thrown by (presumably pilled up) idiots, and the air thickened with smoke from both machines and cigarettes, masking the five piece’s arrival on stage. Hot Chip feels like a guilty pleasure; self-proclaimed geeks with plenty of keyboards and submissive vocals, they re-create a sound that, methodically, should suit your Dad’s record collection, but instead the result avoids such dismay, enveloping you in a warm pop duvet. Showcasing the odd new track amongst a set replete with hits from “the Warning”, the only marring was caused by tenuous sound difficulties that peppered each song intermittently. ‘Colours’ and ‘Boy from School’ were greeted with rapturous cheer as the crowd bopped up and down simultaneously, arms raised and hands clapping. I had to leave with still a good third of the set left, missing an encore that, I presume, included the ‘hit single’ ‘Over and Over’, but an hour was arguably enough for me.
It’s a case of Junior / Senior tonight. There’s promise, and there’s perfect execution. There’s reaction and passion and perception; it’s just a shame that the apparent divide occurred at the expense of a band that didn’t deserve such ignorance. To the crowd, Junior Boys were a mere flutter. To me, they were up there swinging with their predecessors. They'll get their time.
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