Towards the end of 2018, one of the most beautiful shows I’ve been at, to date, took place at the Brudenell Social Club. The Amazons played to a sell-out crowd in support of Joe Glew, a young man who died from Leukaemia, not long before the show. It was a rousing, wonderful show and it signalled the end of the previous era for the Amazons. This February, they returned to the city playing an intimate show at the Key Club and whilst the sentimentality wasn’t the same – the music quality was just as good and it was certainly another Leeds, Amazons night to remember!
2019 sees the Amazons release their eagerly anticipated sophomore record. Such is the perceived quality of the new songs by the Berkshire lads, they opened the show, bravely, with lead single from the album, Mother. Having only beig released four days prior – it would be safe to assume this would land flat with a crowd; on the contrary, the entire crowd was yelling back the words… “Mother, it’s not in my hands, try to understand it’s only ’cause I can.” Lead singer Matt Thomson seemed genuinely taken aback with the volume of the crowd singing back and it was the ultimate show opener, setting up a killer night of tunes.
As the band rattled through some of their biggest hits from the debut record, it was easy to see how they’ve become the indie-rock force they have in the last 48 months. Stay With Me and Ultraviolet led to mass singalongs and by the time Little Something ended – the roof of the packed Key Club was literally dripping with sweat onto the adoring fans at the front and the band on stage.
New tracks Dark Visions and Doubt It landed perfectly and whetted everyone’s appetite for the new record, but it was the trio of In My Mind, Black Magic and Junk Food Forever that set the crowd alight and wanting much, much more when the set finished. There is no doubt the band have found their sound over the debut record and new tracks; a big festival season could rocket this band into the big leagues and it would be hard to say it isn’t deserved.
Such talent should be playing much larger venues, but it brought home how great some of Leeds’ small venues are that they can host such acts. I met Matt after the show and he was a great guy to speak to, humble, and grounded which are two traits that will take this band far. This was a special introduction to the new music and proof (as if any was needed), The Amazons are the band to watch, on the rise in the UK.
Halfway 2 Nowhere 