“Can I borrow your lighter please?” I rehearse. I really want to talk to Trudy and/or The Romance, and so I continued to practice this reliable ice-breaker before approaching.

When I finally did stutter out my overly prepared line, it became embarrassingly clear to me how little I had to be nervous about. The cosy venue, The Lending Room, was perfect to play host to such a warm, friendly and talented band. Their Junkyard Jazz Tour is in full swing, and their stop in Leeds was certainly not one to be missed.

If you haven’t listened to them yet, this Liverpool-based band provide an irresistible combination of indie-pop with rocky 50’s vibes, making them sound like nothing you’re listening to at the moment. The endearingly smiley Olly Taylor, who fronts the band with the guitar and vocals, had the intimate crowd singing along within seconds. His continually swooning, almost Beatles-esque, vocals complementing the more current indie-pop guitar underneath. Midway through the set, they brought the crowd together with their hopelessly romantic ‘Baby, I’m Blue’, before easing into a nicely-lazy second half.

Still getting their name out there, the four-piece made up of Olly, Lewis, Brad, and new member Alex, are ones to watch over the coming months, and they proved just that with this uniquely personable gig. They commanded the small venue above the Library pub with passion and style, and they are a must-see for any indie romantic with an intimate gig craving.

Matt Port

Images by Meg Firth