A Maximo High

• 10th Feb 2005

VManEvents Presents…

MAXIMO PARK

The Jakpot
Free Mojo
Pinkertons

Friday, February 25th 2005 @ Dry Bar, Manchester. £4/ £5, 7.30pm

The North-East as a hotbed of new UK guitar music, anyone? If the evidence of Maximo Park and their Tyne-&-Wearside cohorts The Futureheads is anything to go by, that may not sound so far-fetched. Signed to Warp Records, a label more accustomed to putting out avant-garde electronica like Squarepusher and Aphex Twin, Maximo Park “fit-in” only in an outsider sense; angular guitar pop groups aren’t usually on the Warp menu, but when they’re this good, it’s easy to see why Warp bagged them.

With debut single “The Coast Is Always Changing/The Night I Lost My Head” and follow-up “Apply Some Pressure” sending pulses racing last year, the band release debut album “Apply Some Pressure” on the 21st of the month. Insistent and inventive, Maximo Park bring to mind artists like Roxy Music and Talking Heads in the way they subvert the classic pop song. Musically and lyrically there’s flashes of Pulp, Magazine, Dinosaur Jr. and Wire in their mix of working class glam.

Live, the band are a special proposition, a thrilling musical experience with the most compelling singer to emerge this year. It’s impossible to mention frontman Paul Smith without using the word “charismatic”. Claiming to be inspired by no other frontmen and looking like he’s been suited-up by his namesake, he may well be the star of 2005. Combining the nerdy appeal of Jarvis Cocker, the nervous intensity of Ian Curtis, the suaveness of Bryan Ferry and the wit of Morrissey, he has a presence both on stage and on record that makes these songs true classics. With the Manchester date coming up the same week the album is released, this gig is sure to be a highlight of the tour that catapults the band into pop stardom.

“Maximo Park are show offs but, as more of us are going to see, they have a lot to brag about.” Ged M- soundxp.com

“Smith is one of those rare singers who simply bleed charisma… thank Christ for Maximo Park.” Patrick Whistler- earlash.com

MAXIMO PARK TOUR

JAN
15 BATH MOLES 01225 404 445
18 NEWCASTLE CUMBERLAND ARMS 0191 265 6151
25 LONDON METRO 020 7734 8932
27 NOTTINGHAM THE SOCIAL 0115 958 8484

FEB
01 NEWCASTLE FOUNDATION 0191 261 8985
04 NEWCASTLE NORTHUMBRIA UNI 0191 227 3762
05 LONDON FROG 020 8963 0940
13 LEEDS COCKPIT 0113 245 5570
14 WOLVERHAMPTON LITTLE CIVIC 01902 552 121
15 BIRMINGHAMJUG OF ALE 0121 449 1082
16 LONDON BARFLY (XFM X-POSURE NIGHT) 0870 907 0999
17 EXETER CAVERN 01392 425 309
19 BRISTOL LOUISIANA 0117 929 9008
20 LIVERPOOL BARFLY 0870 907 0999
21 NEWCASTLE CLUNY 0191 230 4474
22 GLASGOW BARFLY 0871 907 0999
24 HULL THE WELLY 01642 247 755
25 MANCHESTER DRY BAR 0161 832 1111
26 MIDDLESBOROUGH EMPIRE 01642 247 755