Leeds Pageant 2023 – Day Three (additionally see Day One and Day Two)
Bramham Park, Leeds
Twenty fifth-Twenty seventh August 2023

The heavens open at Leeds Pageant and our man Paul Clarke dons his poncho as The Killers shut the pageant with a reside masterclass. Trevor Eales takes the images.

Simply as you’re considering Leeds Pageant has dodged the rain predicted by the climate boffins, heavy showers sweep throughout the positioning, nevertheless it doesn’t dampen anybody’s spirits, with a palpable pleasure within the air for The Killers’ closing set tonight.

Because the heavens open and other people rush to drag on their ponchos, Arlo Park’s model of breezy trendy soul is the proper antidote. The downpour and plunging temperature doesn’t appear to discourage these kids nonetheless wandering round in beachwear and with no shirts; it appears northern Gen Z-ers are manufactured from hardy stuff.

Over on East Stage, rising emo star Holly Humberstone is one other former Leeds Pageant punter profiting from her first large stage slot. It’s a mixture of outdated stuff and tunes for her from her upcoming album, with Antichrist in regards to the break-up with ‘a chunk of shit’ being a spotlight, while a gang of older girls in ponchos are singing alongside to Falling Asleep At The Wheel. The catchy Scarlett is by far her stronger track and an effective way to complete a very strong set.

The sons of rock superstars – Jakob Dylan anybody? – have a tendency not to do this nicely, however Elijah Hewson is proving to be an exception to the rule on East Stage together with his tight outfit Inhaler, who’ve had primary albums within the UK and of their native Eire. This lot have been collectively since youngsters, and it exhibits as their songs are tightly constructed with loads of emotional demise. Hewson isn’t a chip off the outdated block as a frontman, however he has a robust presence and voice on large tunes just like the catchy Cheer Up Child and It Received’t All the time Be Like This. Inhaler have all of the substances to climb as much as later and larger slots.

Over on West Stage, Aussie R&B nutcases Chase Atlantic are having a ball as potty mouthed singer Mitchel Cave flies across the stage, backed by brother Clinton on guitar. They’ve a very odd mix of R&B, pop and rock nevertheless it form of works. They got here out of the boyband scene down below so know to work a crowd, and they’re a type of acts the place it’s arduous to know should you like them or not….I believe I do.

South African Babyqueen has been placing the work in for years, and she or he does right here with a graveyard slot on East Stage after which over to BBC Introducing stage for a brief night set. She obtained the break she wanted when her songs had been used on the Netflix hit Heartstopper and is a bundle of power and uncooked honesty, belting out Web Queen for a a lot greater crowd than normal for this stage. Babyqueen is one other likeable younger artist ripe for a transfer to raised slots.

Drill artist Central Cee is over on East Stage and, nearly as good as he’s, you might be distracted by the group of individuals milling aimlessly across the stage behind him. My eighteen 12 months outdated described it as a ‘fever dream’, and I used to be hopelessly fixated on why a grown man had determined to wander around the stage of a significant pageant in a balaclava. Central Cee is nice, however his stage present much less so.

The 1975 at all times appear to be using to this pageant’s rescue when a significant band drops out. Final 12 months it was Rage In opposition to The Machine, and the time they’re on West Stage deputising for Lewis Capaldi, who has rightly determined to place his well being first.

It’s been a decade since The 1975 launched their self-titled first album, and they’re going to play it in its entirety. Final 12 months it was cocky, unfocused Matty Healey, however tonight we get the charming and on in it model, clad in a easy black jacket, which frankly makes for a a lot better present. With much less give attention to the ego, Healey exhibits off his appreciable vocal skills backed by a band who’re at all times on level, so early fan favourites like Chocolate and Intercourse go down very nicely. Enjoying it’s a reminder why The 1975 burst onto the scene, as this extra mature rendition exhibits their debut is a superb report. There’s sufficient time for a mini best hits set, together with It’s Not Dwelling (If It’s Not With You) and Someone Else. On this form of type, The 1975 are considered one of our greatest pop/rock bands, and full marks to them for as soon as once more stepping in at quick discover.

One other advice from our photographer is eccentric rock act Sleep Token who not too long ago bought out Wembley Area in 10 minutes, however the vagrancies of pageant reserving means they’re taking part in the comparatively intimate Pageant Republic tent. Leeds was once very rock oriented, so it’s good see a correct steel/goth band on the invoice, particularly one as distinctive as this one. Led by mysterious singer Vessel, they’re all masked and clad in large cloaks, together with three eerie backing singers backlit behind the stage. The thought is they’re all in thrall to an historical deity known as Sleep, which sounds bonkers, however is definitely a fairly sensible idea that in some way works and is massively entertaining. There’s little bit of steel and many The Sisters Of Mercy, particularly in Vessel’s very spectacular vocal vary. Granite prompts a surreal singalong, and the extra direct doom of Core has one child enthusiastically headbanging. That is prone to be the final likelihood to see this unusual however stunning lot in a small venue.

There’s a buzz within the damp air earlier than the ultimate act which is barely odd as lots of the viewers weren’t even born when The Killers launched their multi-platinum debut album, Scorching Fuss. There’s a slight doubt in my thoughts {that a} band who generally really feel like they had been created by AI would possibly join with this viewers till I realise a lot of their songs are indie disco bangers.

After which Brandon Flowers delivers an absolute masterclass in the way to entrance a band and work an viewers. He could also be a bit tacky at occasions, however clad in a glittery go well with he is likely one of the all time nice frontmen, tirelessly roaming the stage exhorting the viewers to imbibe the spirit of rock’n’roll. It’s not shocking they hail from Las Vegas, as they’ve clearly wallowed within the excesses of that loopy leisure mecca within the desert.

Propelled by Ronnie Vannucci Jr’s drumming, they swing by way of the indie/rock basic When You Have been Younger, particularly pertinent for this viewers who truly are youthful, in contrast to many others they play to. Jenny Was a Good friend Of Mine is one other stand out earlier than the rousing All These Issues That I Have Executed, urging the group to bellow the acquainted chorus of “I’ve obtained soul however I’m not a soldier’.

All of it ends with Mr Brightside, a track assured to get any indie disco going, however Flowers and co hardly ever do issues the best way you would possibly count on. So it begins with an digital model that barely foxes the children earlier than guitarist Dave Keuning picks out that acquainted riff and the group simply erupts, singing and dancing alongside. As a notice to any band additional down the invoice with ambitions to headline this pageant, watch this present and see simply what it’s essential do. The Killers is likely to be a bit camp, most positively excessive, filled with nice tunes performed by a good band, however it’s at all times completely entertaining.

My eighteen 12 months outdated says afterwards that The Killers are the ‘excellent band’ to shut out a really profitable pageant, and she or he’s useless proper because the organisers had their programming spot on, with one thing for music followers younger and outdated. As stated earlier than, Leeds and Studying Festivals are a ceremony of passage for lots of the youngsters who, in addition to studying a bit extra about themselves, could have additionally added to their musical training courtesy of a very numerous invoice.

If solely we might educate the egocentric little sods to take their tents and crap house with them…

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Phrases by Paul Clarke, you may see his creator profile right here.

Pictures by Trev Eales. Extra work by Trev on Louder Than Warfare could be discovered at his creator’s profile. His pictures portfolio is right here.