There can’t be many times that you’ll go to see a band who’ll go completely off ‘script’, so to speak. Similarly, I can’t remember many lead singers that will end a much-loved classic by channeling Elvis. And how may bands will give you an impromptu song about the host town as well as an on the spot bit of Art of Noise? Ladies, gentlemen and indie kids, I give to you, The Bluetones, whose York gig on Easter Sunday was better than any amount of eggs and even featured a teenage Jesus. But more of that later.
Tonight’s support band were Balter, a band I’d never heard before and frankly a band so young looking that they made me feel pensionable. However, they also made me sit up and take notice, which is always good in a support band. Balter play a kind of breezy pop that reminded me a bit of early Vampire Weekend. Tons of energy, but as tight as you like and a band who very much enjoyed their time on stage. No edge, no self importance but plenty of tunes, which in the grand scheme of things is kind of important.
Their set was neither smooth nor faultless with lead singer Tom having all kinds of technical problems with his guitars, but they simply never faltered. They have something that is definitely original and a kind of carefree attitude that had the York crowd getting onboard almost instantly. No side, but just enough swagger. If their future is as big as their jeans then you’ll be hearing from Balter very soon. I certainly hope so.
Not long later and possibly with a Jesus influenced Easter curfew to stick to, on stroll The Bluetones. Minus their keyboard player and with a new EP to promote this is far from just a greatest hits set but as ever, it’s thoroughly enjoyable. This is a band that never fail to make me smile. No doubt you’ll know the sound; breezy indie pop and more than a bit of a gift for a riff and a cracking chorus.
For me, The Bluetones can do no wrong. Tonight’s set begins with two classics in ‘Are You Blue or Are You Blind’ and ‘Bluetonic’ and as all the worst adverts say, the hits just keep on coming! The much underrated ‘A New Athens’ follows with ‘You’re No Fun Anymore’ before we get our first live taste of the new material with ‘Cheap Hotel’, which has hints of the Byrds and Big Star and frankly sounds great. Fellow new tracks ‘Billy Balfour ‘ and ‘In The Cut’ aren’t far behind and both prove that some bands just have a happy knack for writing cracking tunes.
Later on, the back catalogue is mined a bit more and we’re treated to crowd favourites like ‘Slight Return’, ‘Cut Some Rug’ and ‘The Fountainhead’ all of which are thoroughly well received and continue to be fantastic slices of indie pop, regardless of how many times you might have heard them or seen them performed live. Singer Mark Morriss is in a great mood and as ever has a lot to say between songs. If he ever tires of making wonderful indie pop there’s definitely a future in stand up for him, but it’s without any snide side whatsoever that I’d say please, stick to the day job.
We end a wonderful night with a bit of a different encore. First up is brand new track ‘London Weekend Television’ which has a bit of a harder edge than usual and then, as an Easter treat, we get fan favourite ‘I Was a Teenage Jesus’ before the night is rounded off in real style with ‘If’. Brilliant, just brilliant.
There’s more gigs planned for October and November and I’d thoroughly recommend that you grab a ticket while you can.
WORDS AND PHOTO CREDIT – GRAHAM CROSBY
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