The Music

It feels good walking into the Empress Ballroom from the disgusting April showers that lurk outside in the wind tunnel that is Blackpool. Within the impressive venue at least a thousand people stand expectant; smoking, drinking and creating a buzz of suspense for tonight’s long awaited return of The Music, who for two nights only will ‘tour’ the UK.

First up are XFM play-list favourites the Kings of Leon heralding from somewhere in the United States. Pretty insipid is the word best to describe them although the set itself is solid, inoffensive and supplies some light entertainment until The Music take the stage. Some of their songs are catchy (not unlike lethargy) and for a third-wave mediocre garage band they play their part as musicians very well.

Laid back but on top form The Music take to their light bulb illuminated stage whilst a thousand indie-soul kids go mental. Drinks are thrown, beer is spilt and the band dance manically whilst the throng sings the words. Brit-pop would have been a great genre to pigeonhole *TM* into. Their brand of funky-indie-northern-soul alludes to elements from many of the bands of the north in the 90’s. What *TM* do however, is to take things a step up.

Dark, distinctive and unmistakable the music played tonight could only have been produced by this one band. Emotive riffs mix well with mysterious bass tunes and evocative drum patterns whilst singer rants and catahalls with his definitive sounding whine. Little new material is attempted with the band stick to songs from their first and only album; perhaps not wanting to take any risks when returning to the stage after their break. There is no encore this evening, but no one goes home disappointed. The Music have achieved what they set out to do, solidly proving themselves back on the scene and their fans have been delighted.