“What happens on tour stays on tour” – opener Cleft warms the crowd at Belgrave Music Hall on this cold-as-hell Sunday evening with some banterful small talk as charming as the Mancunian duo’s music. Their self-proclaimed ‘turbo-prog’ is funky and energetic, but the real entertainment is in Cleft’s inner relationship: gurning at each other throughout the set and toying with the audience by often playing as quiet as they possibly can – you’d think they were two schoolkids having the time of their life rehearsing. This deceptively heavy duo has more energy and talent than your two-bit four-piece, but the band that followed are anything but.
Icelandic band Agent Fresco are humbled to be at Belgrave Music Hall for their debut UK performance, but its hard for anyone to follow Cleft’s enthusiasm. Fresco’s tour supporting their latest and highly commended album ‘Destier’ brings a forceful alternative rock to Europe, as well as elements of progressive and pop music – bouncy riffs and a modest technicality make their music so catchy yet unique. The terrifying ‘He Is Listening’ and ‘Angst’ with fierce growls played alongside the poppy ‘Howls’ and ‘Pyre’ with soaring high vocal lines shows the influx of emotion this band is capable of, but carries with it an endearing fragility.
As the night progresses, vocalist Arnór Dan Arnarson reveals his intimate world to us – the fire within Fresco’s music. Between each song, their emotional blueprints are laid before us and it is simply humbling to be involved in matters so personal. The requiem for Arnarson’s father ‘Implosions’ and ‘Wait For Me’s yearning to return to family ties the audience together – I would not be surprised if many a tear fell during these songs. Yet Fresco rocked as hard as they moved us; with the closers ‘Eyes of a Cloud Catcher’ and ‘The Autumn Red’ sending the audience wild, ending the night in celebration rather than in sorrow. Agent Fresco’s first night in the UK was no less than electrifying, and I am hopeful for their swift return to Leeds.
Jekabs Jursins