A week-long series of concerts to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Full Time Hobby record label continued with a gala gig featuring The Leisure Society playing their entire 'Sleeper' (debut) album, The Smoke Fairies and Samantha Crain at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the Southbank. This rather comfortable and intimate seated venue was in fact, just the place for a gig at the end of a sunny autumn day.
Samatha Crain was first on, solo with a acoustic guitar having just hopped off a plane. The new album must be due next year and the 30 minutes or so she was on stage, she crammed with songs old and new. A very talented singer-songwriter, whose reputation is growing.
Last time I saw the Smoke Fairies live must have been at the End of the Road festival around the release of their first LP; Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies, two acoustic guitars and sweet smoky harmonies. Fast forward a few years and tonight it's a full on 5 piece band with the electric guitars plugged in and, the amps turned up to max. Add to that a powerhouse drummer, bass and keyboards and you can imagine the spectacular effect! Still the same great harmonies just with Uncle Jack's (White) influence's to 'crank it up' looming large perhaps.
To wind up the evening it's the best toe tapping, feel good band in Britain next up. The Leisure Society are here tonight with at one point a ten piece band (mainly 9) to play though their entire debut album 'Sleeper' which itself was celebrating its 5th anniversary.
I defy anyone to leave a Leisure Society gig without that feel good factor. Nick Hemming's songs are a delight, intelligent, interesting and err .. well, toe tappers! The band injects the life into the songs with a myriad of instrument's and harmonies and general good humour.
Throughout the gig the video backdrop showed various artwork from the band's career, including a previously unseen cover for 'The Sleeper' ably described by Christian Hardy. Post the album run through The band played a couple of new songs from their currently being recorded 4th LP, which showed the rich vein of song writing still continues, together with some non - Sleeper songs, including an energetic 'Dust on the Dancefloor' that saw the gig conclude in fine style just over three hours after it started.
Pete
Photos HERE
