Live Review

Los Campesinos – Glasgow King Tuts

• 19th Feb 2008

Los Campesinos played Glasgow’s King Tuts on a freezing Thursday night and it’s apparent that the group have came far from the days of playing Welsh student unions.
After signing to record label Wichita the band have gained a largely student following which is apparent when looking around the bar.
Debut album ‘Hold On Now Youngster’ is filled with infectious indie pop tunes and has been gaining a fair amount of popularity – and a near to sell out King Tuts shows it.
The tiny stage can barely hold their instruments let alone the seven Cardiff city rockers themselves, and this perhaps prevents the band moving about as emphatically as their reputation proceeds.
When they come on stage they start things off with ‘Broken Heart Beats Sound Like Brakebeats’ and despite the restricted space the band still manage to work up a sweat with Gareth and co being as animated as possible.
Ofcourse, the fact that it was Valentines Day couldn’t go unnoticed and sure enough keyboard player Gareth dedicates ‘This Is How You Spell “HAHAHA, We Destroyed the Hopes and Dreams of a Generation of Faux-Romantics”’ to all the couples in the crowd… After which he makes his distain for missing the football known.
Aside from this and the usual ‘thank you’s’ it’s all down to business and interaction with the crowd is kept to a minimum.
Most importantly the music speaks for itself and versions of ‘Don’t Tell Me To Do The Math’ and ‘Knee Deep at ATP’ sound particularly impressive in an evening which showed little sign of weekness.
One of the highlights of the night is a flawless rendition of ‘Drop It Doe Eyes’ which itself is a great track and live it’s even better.
Towards the end they unleash fan favourite ‘You! Me! Dancing!’ to a rapturous reception before wrapping up with ‘Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks’.
It’s been a good while since Los Campesinos traded the student life for a music career, and on the back of a solid debut album and live shows like this, the future looks bright for this highly likeable seven piece.