Live Review
Pete And The Pirates – The Fly, London
With Pete And The Pirates headlining Glasswerk’s brand new club night, Revelry in Reading on November 20th we sent one of our men down to the Fly on Halloween Friday to take a glimpse of the band live as they continued their UK tour. Here is what he saw…
Halloween is a time for people to dress like idiots and not feel self-conscious about it. For once. The Pirates provide a perfect soundtrack to the willful abandon that this time of year offers.
Bounding around the stage like it’s the last day of term, it’s impossible not to feel a warm glow for the band’s enthusiasm, especially in this intimate environment. Continuing the academic theme, the band makes no pretence of being too cool for school. Their music is simply what pop music should be; fun.
The set gleams with shimmering guitars; particularly on signature tune She Doesn’t Belong To Me. Vocalist Tommy Sanders encourages the crowd to sing along at every point, which only adds to the carnival atmosphere. I saw this band at the Reading Festival earlier this year, and I thought that the best weapon in their armoury was the throbbing bass. It may have been the acoustics, but tonight only enforced that opinion. Bassist Pete Cattermoul seemed in the mood tonight, and his aggressive playing added a dark edge to the band’s usual carefree energy.
Also, their technical proficiency is not to be underestimated; the guitars, almost at odds with each other, very nearly steal the bassist’s thunder, and it’s almost impossible not to join in with the vocal harmonies.
However, perhaps because of their tender age, the songs feel almost too jaunty. I hope it’s youthful naivety rather than cynical commercialism, but Bright Lights sounds like a rich man’s Hoosiers. No shame in wanting to be popular, but there is a risk that the band will compromise their individuality in the hunt for mainstream appreciation.
But that’s a concern for another day. Tonight’s gig is a one-off, a purely hedonistic evening of playful interaction between audience and crowd. Wherever the Pirates are sailing, it promises to be far from troubled waters.
November 20th at Plug N Play, Reading is sure to be an excellent launch for Revelry as well as a much-demanded homecoming. Get your ticket now.