- Manchester Apollo - 8th October 2009 -
Support : Dutch Uncles, Hot Club De Paris.
Skinny jeans are out in force tonight in Manchester, though none looking quite as good as they do on Hot Club De Paris, who play an impressively tight set despite battling against a half-empty venue.
The place quickly fills for the main attraction and eventually, amidst disco lights and the thick layer of fog unfurling from the many smoke machines; transforming the previously drab stage into something from a music video; they emerge, launching straight into ‘A19’ – “we are Maximo Park” (hear us roar).
A welcome break from the usual indie uniform of checked shirts, black wire frames and ironically asymmetric haircuts; in their smart suits and trilbies, Maximo Park are every inch sophisticated, film-noir chic. It’s rare to see a drummer in any type of shirt, much less one with a collar and cuffs, these guys are definitely serious contenders for Britain’s best-dressed band. The Apollo serves as an epic, theatrical stage for what is more a cabaret show than a rock gig. An observation validated when, after rattling through a few of their best singles, a five-piece brass ensemble join them to give latest album, ‘Quicken the Heart’ a cool, retro edge.
The band are on form, but despite a flawless delivery, are quickly overshadowed by frontman Paul Smith, offering little more than background music for Smith’s energetic onstage antics. He acts out every lyric, punching a megaphone triumphantly into the air to screech out the chorus to ‘Quicken The Heart’, and clutching the mic stand apparently for ‘emotional support’ whilst belting out the ‘Parisien Skies’ in unison with the crowd. “ Manchester 'The Kids Are Sick Again'”, jetting around, giving the guys running the spotlight a run for their money.
The stage suddenly takes on an element of horror, and the lighting glows as Smith stalks the stage during ‘Russian Literature’, his shadow super-sized on the wall behind him as the crowd jostle to get closer. It’s hard to believe that this ex-teacher ever thought that he ‘wasn’t frontman material’, a born performer, he's definitely at home on the stage, pulling out every trick to get the crowd moving – and they’re more than willing to comply.
Crooning out an encore of ‘Acrobats’ and ‘Our Velocity’, they save the best for last as the latter of these generates the closest thing to a mosh pit i’ve seen all night.
Verdict : A good show but it’s Smith that sticks in your mind: his effortless showmanship makes for an electric atmosphere. Maximo Park? Try The Paul Smith Experience.
8/10
By Beth Cook
Maximo Park's latest album 'Quicken The Heart', released on Warp Records, 11th May 2009, is available from their online store : http://www.recordstore.co.uk/maximopark/
Tour Dates and Tickets : http://maximopark.com/live-dates
