As far as the cost to value ratio is concerned, five pounds for five bands is a pretty stellar deal. So at the O2 Academy on Wednesday night, whilst Frank Turner packed out a show in the main room, the smaller room filled with fans and friends alike, eager to see and hear some of the best new music the night had to offer.
Stereojets were first under the stage lights, mixing covers of Fall Out Boy and Blink 182 classics along with their own originals, inciting mini-moshes from members of the crowd. With their drummer aptly dressed in an Animal t-shirt, The Sunset Limited were next, their rocky refrains and echoing vocals drawing smokers in from the cold and drinkers away from the bar with ease.
It wasn’t until the third band, however, that the audience really became engaged. If you’re a fan of Peace, then you’ll definitely want to keep your eyes on these guys. Taking to the stage for their debut show to the tune of TLC’s ‘No Scrubs,’ Sugar performed their set with an all-natural swagger. Delicious sounding guitars wasted no time in winning over the audience, whilst the band wasted no time in adopting rock star personas, sharing on stage kisses and throwing items of clothing into the crowd (which were promptly caught and worn).
Leopard followed, suitably equipped with leopard print guitar straps, headbands, and wristbands. Their set centred on debut single, ‘Breathe,’ and included a bizarrely enjoyable mash-up of Jay-Z’s ’99 Problems’ and Will Smith’s ‘The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air,’ complete with heavy guitar riffs. Whilst they might not have been on the circuit long, they certainly know how to entertain.
Headlining the night were Lovats. Whilst a number of the compliments floating around the room through the bands set may have had more to do with their frontman’s distinctive hair colour, the group played a set that proved them to have more than appearance in their favour. New single, ‘Over,’ and old favourite ‘Fiction,’ were clear highlights, and the band drew the show to an impressive finish, as people piled out the venue in search of more cheap drinks.