Reviewer Reviews...LULS/Splashh/Swim Deep/Spector at O2 Shepherds BushEmpire

Fans out of their seats at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire

On Saturday 10th November, the Spectour reached its spectacular climax at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire. Teh coming together of some of independent music's most exciting bands, right now and also in the future.

I'm talking about Spector, Splashh, LULS and Swim Deep.

Although little is known about first support band LULS, I do know that they are from London and that their first release Young is on replay on my iPod. I also know that the band where unlucky as most at the venue couldn't understand what they were saying, but expect to hear more about these guys in our New Band Recommendations soon, because I do really like them.

Next up on the bill were Splashh, an already relatively famous band from Australia. Although their lo-fi fuzzy sound has been done before, I still feel a strong warming to the band. So much so, that when lead singer and guitarist Sasha Carson advised the crowd to spend their pocket money on new single Vacation, I did. Although(as I said), they sound like bands such as Howler and Crocodiles, I think the zoned out vocals set them apart from the others like them.

Swim Deep

After Splashh came Swim Deep, a band who had far more stage presence than the two who came before. Lead signer Austin Williams really connected with the crowd in a way that I had not seen all evening. As he swooned around the stage, he was reminiscent of James front man Tim Booth, in appearance and also body language. I do like Swim Deep, and so did a lot of other people in the venue. And if they didn't, I'm sure many do now. But although I was impressed by Williams' performance as a front man, it was merely a warm-up for what was to come. Yes, the time of Fred Macpherson was nigh.

Swaggering onto the stage in an all white suit Fred immediately launched into Upset Boulevard from the 5 piece's first and only album. Immediately, the crowd went crazy, and someone decided to crowd surf, thus prompting their ejection. 'Big up to the person getting ejected on the first track!' Fred aptly commented.

Fred of Spector

The show was almost a homecoming gig for the band, and was filled with anecdotes, such as when 14 year old Fred and Chris tried and failed to purchase tickets for Interpol at O2 Shepherds Bush.

And although Fred is the main man of Spector, the other members are loved just as much. For example, bassist Tom Shickle crowd surfed, and the whole venue tried to get a touch of the much loved Londoner.

Some songs truly stood out from the others though. During Chevy Thunder, the whole of the seated areas where on their feet, signing along and dancing. Yet still a steward thought he could make the excitable crowd sit down. In Grim Reefer, a song I thought as one of the albums weaker, the emotions ran high, and I think the band realised how far they'd come. They then proceeded to smash the song, in amazing fashion, and Grim Reefer has been on repeat since that day. The band played Never Fade Away last, after the whole crowd chanted the songs lyrics.

This truly was an amazing gig. From the supports right through to the final song, I enjoyed every bit of it and I would thoroughly recommend going to see Spector when they next tour, as it is an experience as well as a gig.