Live Review

Delays – Monto Water Rats, London

• 7th Jun 2010

Remember Delays? Years ago they released Faded Seaside Glamour to a reasonable amount of acclaim. Songs were used in commercials and, joy of joys, as background music on Match of the Day. They were stars, sort of. And then they disappeared.

Well, I thought they had. But it seems they’ve been chugging along all this time. They’ve made more albums, and are on the brink of releasing their fourth. So I was intrigued to see they were playing Water Rats in London and wandered along. As did a few other people – both the band’s London gigs were sold out. (Which sounds more impressive than it is – Water Rats has a capacity of about 12.)

I first saw Delays playing at a festival when they were touring their debut album. Then, I was chuffed at their set – amid a scene dominated by the likes of Muse and The Strokes, Delays were sweet, joyful and exuberant. They offered delightful high-pitched harmonies and jangly guitars, with a little bit of experimentation and cleverness thrown in to make things more interesting.

At the Water Rats gig, however, it was unfortunately obvious their debut was probably as good as they’re going to get. Songs from the band’s other albums just feel a little too pedestrian. Thump, thump, thump goes the drum, dum de dum goes the bass, twang twang goes the guitar. Frontman Greg Gilbert appears to prefer his ‘rock’ voice to his distinctive falsetto, and the aim now seems to be produce something anthemic – big, loud songs you can imagine filling a stadium. Only they won’t, because it all sounds too much like the big loud songs that have filled stadiums before.

Delays were…delayed, and came onto the stage a good hour after support band Code (another capable but too-familiar group of young lads) had warmed up the amiable crowd of trendy-but-not-too-out-there thirty-somethings. But once they arrived they did put on a good show. They look just the same, Gilbert revved up the willing crowd, and they maintained a stonkingly huge sound with an admirable professionalism and aplomb. So all credit to them on the performance front.

And I might have been the only person in the room disappointed with the band’s musical direction. They’ve retained a loyal following of fans who’ve faithfully kept buying albums, and who sung along rambunctiously to all the anthems, not just Hey Girl and Nearer than Heaven. For them, it was a fun gig in a great little venue and I’m sure they feel they got their money’s worth.

Songs off the new album, including the single Unsung were well-received, albeit in a quieter hold-your-pint-and-nod-your-head kind of way. Unsung is another School of Rock song, it’s catchy enough, but it might not be setting the world alight.