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Live Review
by SaschaS
1-5-2003
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| Athlete: backstage at Astoria, Earth |
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Live: Athlete
Astoria, London
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Athlete are the new people-band
By the time Athlete take to the stage, with some 15 minutes delay, the crowd is more than ready, the Deptford foursome don’t beat about the M25 and go straight for the heart of the matter. They kick off with ‘El Salvador’ and Joel Pott gets an insta-chorus of 2 thousand! The support continues through most of the setlist and, standing at the balcony, few times the singer’s vocals are lost in the mass’s ‘singing’!
It surely signals the arrival of a new ‘people’s band’, one capable of producing catchy songs that are tailor-made for mob’s sing-a-longs. The band’s cuts committed to the debut album, ‘Vehicles And Animals’, are the best pop-rock songs since the Squeeze’s earliest days. (Both bands are roughly from the same part of London suburbia.) Similarly to the band that had Jools Holland playing piano for, Athlete’s tracks are melodious, full of irresistible hooks, intelligent and undeniably ‘drinking songs’ in the making.
The previous night at the same venue, The Cooper Temple Clause headlining, was also sold out but this felt more crowded, sweatier, more inviting to participation and share of the bonhomie, fans displaying greater eagerness to give itself to the vibes. ‘Westside’ truthfully claims that ‘Everybody wants to be part of the Rock-scene’ and, for the duration, we all are!
Pott is the undisputed focus of the band but it is in a reluctant manner, he doesn’t dominate the stage and shares the spotlights – shining more into the audiences’ eyes instead at the backdrop displaying the band’s logo – with Carey Willets (bass/vocals), Tim Wanstall (keys/vox) Steve Roberts (drums/vocals). Introducing titles and thanking our appreciation is as much ‘showmanship’ as we get.
When ‘Beautiful’ is performed there is a feeling that your soul has been liberated and flown out to rummage through the nearby Soho Square’s night. ‘New Project’ is another slice of romantic sounding song that brings couples closer together, until halfway through… When the band’s ‘wild side’ is unleashed, demonstrating itself suddenly and brutally, pure punk explosion, white-noise, before returning to the initial sonic point.
For a band that’s been together for just about three years, this is truly masterful show of enchanting tunes and nimble delivery. ‘You Got The Style’ is delightfully quirky pop-song that gets under your skin and you… well, sing-a-long, what else? An uplifting spirit rises from their music and ‘You Know’ simply invites to ‘Lift your head/ Everybody’ and you proudly do it, glad to be here, bathed in an aural delicacy and toasting life with a can of lager because it doesn’t feel so s**tty… during the gig, at least.
The band’s official biography starts with a sentence, “Depending on who you ask, Athlete are either Britain’s answer to Pavement, the new Steely Dan or Beta Band’s little brothers”; all of the above and much more with an instant appeal that should make Oasis take note, their crown hasn’t been under such a threat since the Mancs relocated to Famesville. Travis should watch out (or hire private dics if too busy contriving their insipid song-ettes), as well as Starsailor…
Athlete are the new generation, the young melodniks leading to the westworld’s new dawn. Hurry up to experience it, they’ll be playing Knebworth before you know it!
SaschaS
1-5-2003
Athlete’s album ‘Vehicles & Animals’ is available now on Parlophone
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