Having been on a break from the U.K. with a single London show last year it was good to see The Boxer Rebellion back in action.
Having gained notoriety in their early days for self-funding their album releases and becoming an itunes best seller, their latest two releases 'The Cold Still' (2011) and 'Promises' (late 2013) have been somewhat below the radar.
This has always been a hard-working band and tonight they played a full 90 minutes, treating us to a set covering all 4 albums.
The set really picked up 20 minutes in with 'Evacuate' and gained further heights with another old favourite 'We Have This Place Surrounded' and opening track on their latest CD 'Diamonds'
Perhaps unlike the early days TBR are not afraid to mix it up a bit to show their mastery of more stripped-back songs, and 'No Harm' and 'You Belong To Me' provided a welcome counterbalance to the full-on soundscapes and intricate time-signatures which are the hallmark of the band.
As I reflected on the gig later that night I reflected on three superb tracks from their albums past and present, all favourites of mine, that they didn't play - truly a measure of a quality band.
Si & Sally
