The Leisure Society / Dan Michaelson -
Saturday night music starts off with Dan Michelson and the Coastguards (well Coastguard, ‘Horse’ as he's known in the band). Dan is a very talented songwriter, who plays in the band Absentee (currently “on a long lunch”) and well as producing a number of solo albums. Sudden Fiction is the latest gem.
Dan has a deep sing voice and when I say deep, let’s just say he makes Leonard Cohen sound like a soprano. The songs all carry emotion and require concentration so you do find yourself getting drawn in quite quickly. A sizeable and very quiet crowd listened intently for an all too short 30 minutes set.
This Leisure Society date should have been here last October but, a prestigious support slot on the Laura Marling tour meant the rearrangement. A Christmas show at the Barbican with a 30 piece Orchestra meant that the band are brimming with confidence on this tour.
The Leisure Society’s principal songwriter is Nick Hemming but the music is the six piece band as a whole. Always full of life and with an on stage vibrancy that is a joy to behold. The songs cover both their albums and are greeted like old friends, including, the Paul Simon cover.
Tonight it’s a really mixed crowd, young and old (and those in the middle) which all adds to the atmosphere and with added shiny new cello/keyboard/.guitar player onboard, the band deliver a fun show. The third album must beckon soon; the direction it takes will be very interesting.
Pete
Remaining Tour Dates
Friday 2nd March
Saturday 3rd March
