Frank Turner, Leeds O2 Academy, March 18th
Frank Turner played the Leeds O2 Academy on March 18th
Friday, 26, Mar 2010 12:49
I must admit that before I approached the O2, I had a feeling that this might not work.
After all, Frank Turner is an amazing musician, in the past couple of years going from strength to strength with his acoustic energetic folk rock, but I always imagined my first time seeing him play would be in the corner of a traditional pub, sat with a pint while he sang solo in the corner, occasionally stopping for a sip of his own. Luckily, I was about to find out these worries were all for nothing.
Crazy Arms were the first to take stage, bringing an energetic punk sound to an audience that couldn't span a larger demographic if it tried. They gave it everything they had and it was a great start to the evening. Chuck Regan is a name I was unfamiliar with, but his catchy acoustic sound worked its way into the crowd with ease and by now it was apparent exactly how diverse the night's music would be. Backed by a fiddler and double bass, songs that told stories in a gruff but well fitting voice received a mixed reaction, but it's fair to say the majority of the crowd was won over and totally captivated.
As the lights dimmed Frank Turner took to the stage followed by his support band and broke into Photosynthesis. Immediately any doubts of filling the venue with atmosphere are gone as his animated playing was backed by a full sound, the crowd singing along in all the right places. As the set continued the tempo was changed through the night to suit other classics like Long Live The Queen, with the band taking a break and allowing Frank to play alone. In a strange way, the imagined pub atmosphere still lingered as the crowd were always quick to lift their glasses and become involved in a way that I hadn't seen at a live show for a long time. Everywhere you looked the infectious music was causing singing, dancing and a generally great time.
It was clear to see by the end of the night why Turner has grown into these venues, and it's well deserved.
Ben Brady
Set list
Photosynthesis
Try This At Home
Once We Were Anarchists
Richard Devine
The Real Damage
Poetry Of The Deed
Father's Day
Isabel
Dan's Song
Casanova Lament
To Take You Home
Faithful Son
I Knew Prufrock Before He Got Famous
Long Live The Queen
Our Lady of the Campfire
Sons Of Liberty
Reasons Not To Be An Idiot
Encore
The Ballad Of Me And My Friends
St Christopher Is Coming Home
The Road