Peace practically emerged to critical acclaim back in early
2012, with the likes of The Guardian, The Fly and the NME immediately
signalling them as a tour de force of new indie rock. This momentum has
continued with the release of their debut EP EP Delicious in September
2012, and now the release of their debut full length In Love, for which
this tour is supporting.
Being heralded as one of the most important bands
of 2013 makes for some pretty big shoes to fill, but the sheer
excitement and enthusiasm this very young, hip, and wide awake audience
have for the band is palpable, and completely backs up the hype. Peace
emerge to actual screams from the audience, indicative of both the
audience’s age and their literal excitement at seeing this band. The
crowd is further enlivened by the opening track, where the group’s 90s
influenced afro-beat vibe induces dancing, hands in the air, whoops,
cheers and even crowd surfing.
Visually, however, we are presented with little
more than four scruffy, shaggy-looking young men, with greasy hair and a
bit too much of The Stone Roses about them. They do not particularly
put on a “show” either. While they are clearly perfectly competent
musicians, and the music itself has plenty of energy, they are to a
degree stagnant in their performance, which is punctuated only by vague
mumbling addresses to the audience every third or fourth song.
Yet some how Peace really captivates this young
audience, and clearly capture the zeitgeist of the current 16 – 24 year
old market. The crowd are so palpably enraptured by the music, the
lyrics, and generally what the band are about that there is a real,
potent atmosphere created between the band and the audience that is
something very special.
There is a simplicity to Peace’s music, and
particularly their lyrics, which perhaps appeals to this younger
mind-set. Songs are based around pretty basic concepts – happiness,
love, angst and just having a good time – and the lyrical constructs are
often quite basic and repetitive, allowing the audience to easily pick
them up and sing along. The music itself is less simple – fusing as it
does a mass of styles, genres, techniques and eras. The 90s however is
perhaps the most overriding influence, no so much that it sounds
throwback or pastiche, but it is the strongest vibe that floats through
the way the band both looks and sounds. Looking at the audience however,
with their crop tops and blenched denim hot pants, the 90s are in,
especially if you cannot remember that questionable decade the first
time around.
From a personal perspective, Peace have tonight
given a mixed performance, with competent musicianship but a slight lack
of musical conviction. They are a young band however, only performing
together for little over a year. And it must be said – some tracks
(typically the group’s singles) have real charisma, intrigue, and
perhaps vague hints of innovation. There are even flashes of brilliance
towards the end, with their final track turning into an odyssey of
dramatic guitars and dry ice. But it is ultimately the way the audience
has connected with this band in such as whole-hearted and complete way
that is the real thing to note with this band, and is perhaps the key to
their current popularity.
See this at MTTM at: http://www.morethanthemusic.co.uk/25042013-peace-sub-89-reading/
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