Like the majority of us saddo third years, my social life is suffering a little illustrated by the awful reality that I am spending the majority of my precious evenings disappearing under a small mountain of books in everyone “favourite” soul sapping establishment that is the IC. However, I’m rather good at distracting myself, and with this in mind I’ve been dropping hints to the lovely Editor of the gigs section, to send some gigs my way.
How relieved I was when I got a text on Sunday afternoon confirming my place on the guest-list at the Leadmill. What the editor rather vitally forgot to tell me was that it taking place that night (Ed: gulp!) So in the middle of falling asleep in the silent study area, I got a text at 8.30pm asking if I would be able to make the gig; I don’t think Linford Christie could have exited the IC quicker. With a last minute recruited friend in tow, we grabbed a taxi to Leadmill and arrived just as the Fratellis arrived on stage.
Squeezing into a sold-out Leadmill for the fourth date of the Scottish trios’ tour to promote their new album ‘ Here we stand’, I was curious to hear how the Fratelli’s new material would sound. With the last album “Costello Music” spawning catchy sing along to the radio hits such as “Henrietta’ and “Chelsea Dagger” as well as winning a Brit Award for best British newcomer, the new album has a lot to live up to.
Opening with the fantastic upcoming single, Mistress Mabel for release on May 26th, the Fratellis started strong. Weaving their hits from Costello music in with songs from the new album, the band played for 75 minutes to a receptive crowd.
The new material, sounds pretty much like more of the same established Fratellis sound; amusing ditties and story telling lyrics on modern life with simple bluesy yet glamtastic music that makes you want to dance the night away.
‘Mistress Mabel’ was a definite stand out and should be a big hit, however a lot of the new material lacked originality and sounded pretty much like the same thing being played over and over again. However, I refuse to believe that the Fratelli’s would produce a bad second album after the massive success of Costello music. It has to be a grower. But the crowd loved it, especially if the pill induced swaying and yelling of the man next to us who resembled a bald version of Bez from the happy Mondays is anything to go by.
The lack of hair attending the Leadmill should be definitely be highlighted as such was the level of baldness from where I was standing, the gig could have been mistaken for a bald-headed convention. However, I was reassured of a younger presence as a steady stream of sweaty young teens were escorted past me and out of the venue in a rather semi-conscious state, clearly having enjoyed their Fratelli fuelled dancing spree.
They really do know how to get a crowd moving and during Chelsea Dagger; the gig’s finale, the crowd both young and bald sang and danced along amongst shouts of “Yorkshire Yorkshire!” From my three years of living and gig going in Sheffield, I’m pretty sure that chants of “Yorkshire Yorkshire” translates as a damn good gig.
By Fran Stanning
