Feeder, Academy, Leeds

 

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Belly, Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

 

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Pixies, Academy, Birmingham

 

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Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls, Rock City, Nottingham

 

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Doves, Rock City, Nottingham

Supported By White Flowers 

Support tonight is from Preston duo Joey Cobb and Katie Drew known as White Flowers who appear as a three piece tonight. Their sound is somewhat ethereal and they are very good but sadly they don’t hold the majority of the crowd’s attention. Their set maybe spoilt by the chatter of the crowd but not by their own; the lead singer does speak at the start but then after a short 25-minute set they just finish and walk off without a word. So not chatty themselves and maybe miffed at the inattention of the audience. 

To be fair, Doves aren’t very talkative either but then they do open with an instrumental ‘Firesuite’ and will later close with one.

It is largely just great to have Doves back after a very troubled few years. The tour for their last but one album ‘The Universal Want’ back in 2021 was side-lined due to Covid and then cancelled because frontman Jimi Goodwin was struggling with various health issues. 

Now four years on they are back with ‘Constellations for the Lonely’ which not understandably they describe as ‘dark’ but they are still without Goodwin, so the Williams brothers drummer Andy and guitarist Jez take centre stage. They are bolstered by the addition of four other musicians. 

So, they have not one but two new albums to promote although they still somehow end up playing a set mostly of their classics. A gorgeous 'Snowdon', the wonderful 'Winter Hill' and a brilliant ‘Pounding’ among many others. 

Jez steps up to take on most of the vocal duties. He has the added issue, he tells us, he's struggling with his voice - not that you can tell. 

Andy vacates the drums on occasion to do vocals as he does on 'Last Year’s Man' from the new album and on 'Kingdom of Rust' in the encore where he starts up front on vocals before returning to his drumkit halfway through. 

‘Here It Comes’, a classic from their debut album ‘Lost Souls’ in 2000, is dedicated to the absent Goodwin who they assure us is here in spirit. 

After set closer ‘Black and White Town’ they return for a four-song encore that ends with the instrumental 'Space Face' from their Sub Sub days.

The Futureheads, Rock City, Nottingham

Supported By Cucamaras & Du Blonde

The last time I saw the Futureheads was six years ago at the Rescue Rooms, so I’m curious about why we’re at Rock City tonight. It’s only about half full, with the balcony closed and just one bar open. I hope they got a good deal. 

There are two support bands with the opening slot given over to a local band each night. Tonight, it is Nottingham’s Cucamaras who self-describe as ‘post-something’. Sadly, I am too late to catch anything but their last song which sound great with it’s fuzzy riffs and post-something-ness. Damn, I should have got her earlier.  

Then there’s a very quick turnaround before we get Du Blonde which is the stage name of Beth Houghton. She’s from Newcastle Upon Tyne so I hope she gets on with our Sunderland based headliners. 

Houghton is no solo artist and is fronting a six-piece band tonight with some seriously strange outfits going on.  

 

A mix of a bit of glam and a bit of ‘what I just got up in’ but never mind what they look like just feel the music. Which is a decent poppy guitar fare that they certainly put their heart and soul into. I shall try not to insult them by comparing them to Echobelly from the 90s. 

Rock City has now filled up a bit with middle-aged folk like me as the Futureheads take to the most minimalist stage setup I’ve ever seen. I mean who needs gadgets, gimmicks and fancy backdrops. All they need is their guitars and a drumkit. 

Then we’re into the first chant-along of the night with the ‘The Beginning of the Twist’. 

The band have the already converted crowd in the palm of their hands as they quickly rattle through ‘Struck Dumb’, ‘Decent Days and Nights’, ‘Radio Heart’ and ‘Meantime’ barely taking breath. 

The set is largely a nostalgia trip as you would expect as there’s only been one new album in the last thirteen years. This was ‘Powers’ in 2019 from which we get just the one track ‘Good Night Out’. 

 

There’s a mid-set breather where the band down their instruments and go all acapella. I didn’t show much interest in ‘Rant’ the acapella album they did in 2011 but ‘Beeswing’ tonight is excellent. 

Aside for the ‘hits’ there’s plenty of banter, mostly between themselves but occasionally they involve the audience usually when over-explaining the reason behind the next song.  

 

Sadly, were all too soon at the end where the brilliant ‘Carnival Kids’ leads us to the closing ‘Hounds of Love’. They are tempted back for a three song encore before after ‘Man Ray’ that is really is out lot.