Maximo Park, Brixton Academy, May 26th
Maximo Park played Brixton Academy on May 26th
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Thursday, 28, May 2009 04:29
Chris Jefferies finds he must apply some patience as the Geordie five reach south London.
The theatrical backdrop of Brixton Academy was the perfect accompaniment to two very different performers. The Noisettes were a bizarre choice to support Maxïmo Park, and you would have thought that after the outbreak of their single Don't Upset the Rhythm (Go Baby, Go Baby, Go), Shingai Shoniwa and co could look back on support slots as a thing of the past. The Noisettes are a decent disco rock band but they may be destined to being eclipsed by a Mazda advert and that one single – as contagious as gonorrhoea and twice as painful to get rid of.
The main act made a much more immediate impact with first album favourite Graffiti. Paul Smith bounded on stage with boundless energy and launched into a series of high-kicks and leaps which have apparently sent him to the tailors for crotch re-enforcements. The early momentum of the set was exhilarating as the Geordie quintet tore through Our Velocity, with every last word sung back at them by the capacity crowd. Much like the Noisettes before them, this show was very much centred on the lead singer. In case you were in any doubt as to the ringleader, the black-hatted one was regularly spotlighted as he addressed the crowd between songs.
New tracks from Quicken The Heart were met with less enthusiasm, however, as the crowd had yet to get to grips with the angular electronic tunes which show more sophistication, but less immediate appeal. The wailing sirens of Wraithlike were accompanied by rotating blue police lights, which was a nice touch, but there was a sense of apology about the new material; the band seemed aware of how little time the audience had to get acquainted with the new record, as was typified by the misfit single The Kids Are Sick Again. The best received of the new tracks was definitely the filthily Let's Get Clinical, during which Smith offered to "map your body out, inch by inch" before dedicating the song to James Brown and describing it as "a bit of sauce", which says it all really.
But it was definitely the older material which got the crowd into raptures. A thunderous Apply Some Pressure ended the night, with Smith wielding his mic-stand like a weapon and screaming every word with utter conviction. On this evidence the new album will take some time to settle in, but with such a strong back-catalogue, there will be no shortage of patience from the Maxïmo Park faithful.
Chris Jefferies