Basement’s sold-out Stylus gig marked the first time the Ipswich band had played Leeds since their emphatic standout set at Outbreak Festival 2015.

Opening act Alex G started the night with his brand of lo-fi indie rock. The Philadelphian-based singer-songwriter and his band added a laid-back dynamic to the evening’s line-up. Alex G’s sound is reminiscent of 90s minimalist alt-rock groups, such as Pavement and Built to Spill.

Next on was American emo outfit Tigers Jaw. This was the first time the Pennsylvanian quintet have played in Leeds since their show last summer at the Brudenell Social Club. Throughout their set the sound-desk failed to complement the bands ecstatic pop-punk dynamics. Despite this, Tigers Jaw still managed to produce an energetic performance. Highlights included fan-favourite ‘The Sun’, and a cover of The Cure’s ‘In Between Days’.

Headliners Basement came on stage to a fully packed main room at the Leeds University Union. Their show opened with ‘Brother’s Keeper’, the first track off the newly released Promise Everything. The band then ran through a set that mostly featured tracks from their two most recent LPs. The new material on Promise Everything marks a further transition towards a more melodic sound away from the abrasive dynamics of their first releases. However, throughout this Leeds set Basement’s new sound fitted seamlessly with the heavier older tracks like ‘Crickets Throw Their Voice’ and ‘Whole’. An encore followed the main part of the performance, and the night climaxed with an uplifting rendition of ‘Covet’. The hugely receptive crowd at this sold-out Stylus show exemplified how rapidly the five-some’s fan-base has grown since the release of 2012’s Colourmeinkindness.

After Basement’s run of UK gigs the band will play shows in mainland Europe, before embarking on a US headline tour with Turnstile and Defeater.

 

Adam Moher