When I heard Little Comets were coming to Peterborough, with a strong support line-up, I bought a ticket without a second thought. The band are fiercely independent and are one of those groups who've created a definite, unique sound. I was really curious to hear how that sound would work live - more on that later.So thank you to the Music Venue Trust, and their brilliant ongoing Revive Live series, for bringing the band to Peterborough's Met Lounge, and for giving local supports another amazing showcase opportunity.
This turned out to be one of the best live music experiences I've had in years.
The band's sound was characterised by a prominent supportive bassline, jangly guitars and melodic hooks. They played through five songs (hopefully I counted right), all catchy, enjoyable and well thought out. Alexander is their current release and this one went down well with the early crowd - the band have already built up a loyal local following and I'm sure this will continue to grow.
Unfortunately, I didn't have long to form an opinion on The Tenters, but they left me with the feeling that they'll be a reliable addition to local line-ups, and are not going to stop there. You could clearly see their hunger, and their love for playing relatable music - they're ones to keep an eye on.
Next, local hero Chloe Lorentzen (yes, she's had a very busy year so far) stepped up to her trade mark condenser microphone, this time accompanied by bassist Tom. He's only recently started to join her on stage, and provides a really engaging extra element to her music - and has a massive amount of fun with it, bouncing around with a huge, infectious smile and bottomless energy.
A highlight for me was the premiere of Crowdpleaser. It's a deceptively straightforward song, and perhaps it's going to be one of her most catchy ones, too. I'm told it will be released as part of an EP in a couple of months time (but before that look out for a brand new piano-based tune ...)
I've had the pleasure of hearing Chloe several times before, but there were people in the room on Sunday who hadn't. She was on top form, blazing through her set, and I could tell from the comments and exclamations I overheard that for many of those new listeners she was a revelation.
Chloe finished her set with My Time, always a euphoric song, full of hope, and one which she always seems to deliver with 110% energy. During one of the choruses, bassist Tom added a brilliant touch - a high, descending arpeggio - which brought a great dimension to the piece. I was quite sad to see the set end, but - as usual - was left feeling uplifted and thinking: Yes, this is your time.
Then, it was Mabes' turn. She's been supporting Little Comets throughout their tour, playing solo with just a guitar for support. She writes and sings honest, heartfelt songs, with folk and country influences and a big dose of Billericay, Essex in her delivery and lyrical style. It's a combination which seems to have divided people, and drawn some pretty harsh comments online, but to me it works for her and results in an honest sound.
Having watched Mabes' music videos, and listened to the Spotify versions, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from a live performance, but as soon as she started to sing, I felt that she was in her natural element. She undeniably has a great voice, and that voice is what will win people over -so let it do the work. I liked the slight huskiness at times, and the Essex twang added a sort of charm.
She played through a set of strong songs and at times made herself quite vulnerable through the back stories she told - it was a brave thing to do, in front of an unknown audience away from home. Her inclusion of a Laura Marling cover in the set showed a good touch, and any performer who is brave enough to whistle (as she did during a rendition of Fairground, her latest release) wins my respect.
And finally, it was time for Little Comets. I'd heard they had partaken in a particularly lengthy sound check during the afternoon of the show. I thought that might have been overdoing it, but it absolutely paid off - I was pretty much blown away by the sound they produced. It was somehow so complete - a translation of their studio sound into something very organic and characterful, but still crisp and finely balanced. Their vocal harmonies were also spot on throughout - no disappointment there at all. As soon as they launched into their set, I could tell that this was a group of people who are obsessively proficient musicians, dedicated to making and sharing rich music, but in a likeable way. This is no po-faced, elitist group.
During the hour plus set, the band went through a number of switches of instrument between members: Matt the bassist became an electric-guitarist for a while, then took over the acoustic guitar from (other) Matt, who was nominally on keyboards. This was all done so smoothly and casually, with grins all round.
I really enjoyed the slightly wry, understated banter from lead singer Rob, and the fact that he gave his absolute all for us - and at one point a lot more. There was an incredible moment at the end of one song when Rob had what seemed like a religious experience right in front of our eyes, getting so caught up in the energy, emotion and adrenaline of it all that he was left slightly stunned and recovering for a good few minutes afterwards.
Not long after this, Rob spoke to us about the feeling of playing live again after almost 2 years - about letting a song "float away" for people to listen and respond to, and feeling that connection which only comes from a shared musical experience. That summed it all up for me. It's really a very special time to be going to gigs at the moment - get out there!
Selected tracks from the line-up (also added to the Blog playlist):