The Music

This Leeds-based foursome, The Music, exploded onto the indie scene in May, in some style, with their limited edition debut single, “Take The Long Road And Walk It”, of which only one thousand 7” vinyl copies were released on Fierce Panda Records, and which sold out within days. This live performance at the Roadhouse in Manchester, a major touring venue that has seen the early shows of several well-known bands, was the first in a series of shows in The Music’s debut tour of the North, and the date was a sell-out. This isn’t too surprising, considering the hype that has surrounded the band since their name started getting mentioned more, in such areas as the Radio One Evening Session and in NME. That night at the Roadhouse, the band confirmed the excitement that has encircled them to be worthwhile, if there was ever any doubt.

I’ll set the scene. Thursday evening, 8pm, Manchester Roadhouse. The venue, a small, dark underground room with a bar and a small stage was half-filled with friends and fans of the band talking and drinking, and soon filled up within about an hour.

Support group Superstring went onstage at 9pm. Most people stood and listened to the instrumental Air-style band whose performance lasted around half an hour. The band received not a bad reception from the crowd, but the moment that everyone in the room had been waiting for didn’t arrive until 10pm. In the semi-light, the outlines of four figures walked onto the stage and took their places as noises of encouragement came from the audience. Singer Robert Harvey briefly introduced them, and moments later the band erupted into sound with The Dance and the Roadhouse was bursting with energy.

The beautiful sound of Human, apparently about an old friend and how a relationship used to be, was a noticeable highlight – the vocals sounded almost haunting and soared above the sound of the music, and the psychedelic colourful sounds produced by the guitars could have taken the roof off. As the rumble of the open to Take The Long Road And Walk It sounded, the excitement in the room could really be felt. The tightness of the crowd was unlocked by the incredible live sound of this jaw-dropping number. Stuart Coleman’s bass was amazing and stirred ripples of movement amongst the audience. Harvey’s stage persona was something found hard not to stare at – his dancing could almost have passed for lethal, not to mention his singing which was absolutely to perfection.

The set ended superbly with The Walls Get Smaller, the mind-blowing guitar and drum instrumental in which layers of sound are built up before a sudden explosion of guitars lift the piece of music to its peak. The solemn start caused stillness in the audience around me, and as the sound became more concentrated and more beautiful guitar chords were struck out, the atmosphere was lifted and the sound was extreme. The piece came crashing to its peak - some people jumping up and down, others still standing and appreciating.

The constant intensity of the sound given out by these four guys on a small stage, and the way they delivered their music to the crowd for under an hour, summed up the excitement that has been surrounding them. Even putting musical talent aside – which isn’t really an issue as talent is something that each one of these guys is brimming with – the manner in which they delivered their 45 minute performance, and the sheer effort they put into expressing their work, was exceptional. The fact is that the band are, on a commercial scale, as good as inexistant, and this may always be so – who knows? But whether or not they will be remembered and still listened to in twenty years time is another curiosity. Something about that gig, in an underground room in Manchester, made me feel like I was witnessing something secret that wasn’t going to remain undiscovered for much longer. This could be the start of something big – if I were you I’d keep tabs on it…