Given its 10 years ago, you would expect that they would attract the sort of audience who were at University about 10 years ago. And yes, I have friends in that category. (I of course am a late developer!)
A very nice evening actually as the three of us met at a Polish restaurant in Shepherds Bush after work for a very decent Polish meal, if not quite matched by the speed of the service. Replete with Polish beer and food we headed round the corner to the Empire in time to see the second support, Eliza & the Bear. Odd name, odd look too, but a good sound. I like guitar bands, so the more guitars the better and they had three. But good though they were, I don't feel that's a name I will be hearing again. Sorry chaps.
But ignoring the popularity, the interesting contrast was the quality of the first "half" of the show, which was Vehicles & Animals in its entirety, and the extended encore which was formed of their their later hits. The later stuff was fine, but its really mainstream indie. Vehicles & Animals is quirky - a sound of its own - and it is that inventiveness and originality that they have failed to match in the last decade. Which is sad, as lead singer Joel Pott is a genuinely endearing front man who has a great voice. I couldn't complain at the quality of the entertainment - or my young company - both were great. And it wasn't just like listening to the album - the songs were just a little varied/extended, and for those like me who have played Vehicles & Animals hundreds of times it was lovely to listen to them play among friends. (The audience included TV presenter Dermot O'Leary.) But I can't help feeling rather wistful that Athlete haven't gone on to better things.
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| A happy crowd at the end, but Joel had to ask the audience in the upper tier to get on their feet. You might hope they would want to spontaneously. |
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