The Neighbourhood, otherwise known as ‘The NBHD’ to their most dedicated fans, are an intriguing band. Coming seemingly out of nowhere, this California five-piece have descended on the music industry in a whirlwind, with their song ‘Sweater Weather’ catapulting them into mainstream radio fame and gaining them many new fans. After performing at Reading and Leeds in the summer, where they had a raucous reception despite their early slot on the NME stage, this winter UK tour has been highly anticipated.

Having had the venue moved from the Cockpit after its sad closing last month, the slightly larger setting of Leeds University Union seems to only have been a good thing for the band, who manage to pack out Stylus. Opening with ‘Female Robbery’, the band’s chilled brand of indie rock is complimented by their choice of simplistic white strobe lights and a dark stage.

A real stand out track is ‘Jealousy’, released online by the band for free. The extended sax solo and the RnB edge that this song provides goes down a treat with the crowd and shows that the band have a few strings to their bow in terms of what they can make fit their sound.

Vocalist Jesse Rutherford is one of those hypnotic frontmen you simply cannot take your eyes off – and not just because his outfit choice tonight is a fedora hat, an ‘I heart LA’ t-shirt, sunglasses and a cheetah print coat. He introduces downbeat anthem ‘West Coast’ in his California drawl “Who’s got love for the west coast?” to a raucous response from the crowd.

The band close with ‘Afraid’, a song which pretty much epitomises teen angst and it is delivered with as much of a punch as the aggressive chorus of the song requires. Tonight’s gig seems to confirm that The Neighbourhood are one of those bands with a cult following who are going to be around for a while.

Emily Clarkson

photo 1: lovethatmag.com
photo 2: blog.millsrecordcompany.com