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REVIEW: THE MACCABEES AT CARDIFF GREAT HALL (17/03/12)

The Maccabees are currently at top of their game, having already been announced as headliners of the NME/Radio 1 stage at Leeds/Reading Festival and the latest release, Given to the Wild, reached number four in the UK charts. 2012 is proving to be one of the most successful years for this bands career.

Devoted fans of the band waited outside Cardiff’s Great Hall from midday in order to be the first into the venue for when doors opened. Come 7pm a huge crowd of all ages filled both standing and balcony areas of the venue, leaving no room to move and a taste of excitement and anticipation in the air.

Kicking off the show was LA Shark who won over the Welsh fans with their uplifting, dance funky songs. The band from London caused an infection to dance throughout their set and songs such as I know what you did last summer’ and ‘Magazine Cover’ went down great and were thoroughly enjoyable to listen to.

Needless to say LA Shark offered something different and unique as a support artist and lead singer Samuel Deschamps got the audience in the palm of his hands with his fantastic stage presence which featured him jumping around and getting up close and personal to fans by jumping down and leaning over the barrier into the crowd.

As the lights went off in the sold out great hall a roaring chant from the crowd of the bands name was almost deafening as the five piece from Brighton hit the stage. Kicking off the set with the opening two tracks from their latest release, ‘Given to the Wild’ and ‘Child’ caused the crowd to erupt. The audience’s energy was consistent as a number of older tracks from 2007’s Colour it In and 2009’s Wall of Arms were showcased, with No Kind Words and Can You Give it provoked the audience to join in with the choruses.

The Maccabees have been renowned for their live performances and refused to disappoint the welsh audience; however it was hard not to sense the drop in excitement and passion within the audience when some of the newer tracks were played. As the set drew near its end the massive crowd pleasing Maccabees song, ‘Pelican’ caused a deafening sing-along amongst the crowd.

As they left the stage the crowd applauded and cheered “The Maccabees” for an encore. Fans started stamping the floor, sounding like a thunderous herd of elephants whilst clapping together until The Maccabees gave in and returned to the stage. After returning the stage The Maccabees concluded the evening with a lively performance of the old song ‘Precious Time’ then brought the tempo and energy back up before finishing with another new song ‘Grew up at Midnight’ leaving the crowd wanting more.

Words: Mike Lewis
Photo: Laura Palmer

by 247 Magazine