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It's
been a roller coaster ride for this band over the last couple of
years: incessant touring, two top 40 singles (the third about to
go into the chart) and mostly without airplay and industry backing.
Yet,
you wouldn't know it if you were in the venue tonight.
| "There's
an amazing, hoovering sound, which launches some energetic guitar
moves from singer McVey and charismatic guitarist Morch..." |
The
return of the anthemic 'Still' to their live set marks the pace
for the rest of the evening. It's still bulging with beautiful harmonies
and spine-tingling, ethereal guitars, but it's played harder and
with more determination.
I get
the feeling Long-View have something to prove tonight.
New
single 'Coming Down' (a double a-side along with the older 'When
You Sleep') is by far one of the best things this band have written
and performed. After hearing it for the first time on tour last
summer, fans declared it an instant favourite.
And
that's even before you get to the amazing, hoovering guitar sound
three-quarters of the way through the song, which launches some
energetic guitar moves from singer Rob McVey and charismatic guitarist
Doug Morch, aided and abetted by Matt Dabbs' spot-on drumming.
heart-throb
The
band walks off stage and there's an eager scramble for set lists
and drum sticks.
Some
a little too eager: as great as they are, Long-View aren't quite
Westlife, although
one suspects that bass player Aidan Banks is the band's true heart-throb.
Their
last top 40 single 'In A Dream' (penned by the afore-mentioned Banks)
also makes an appearance in this evening's set.
The
best thing about hearing this song live is how they use the beautiful
yet daunting intro that was mixed by Scottish mongrels Mogwai. Cue
ethereal guitar sounds from Morch and sweetly dripping vocals from
McVey and Banks.
gleeful
voices
Not
only was there the usual sing-along with 'Can't Explain', but the
highly emotional 'I Would' encouraged a male member of the audience
to shout "I ****ING LOVE YOU!" - to which McVey replied
"I love you too." One might have thrown up if it wasn't
so endearing.
The
final song of the set, as always, is 'Further', the band's biggest
'hit' to date.
A cheer
before the song starts and the usual chants of "further…
further… further" as the band turn the volume down to
hear the gleeful voices of their fans.
Spine-tinglingly
great at times, tonight summed up the view that Long-View aren't
going to take on this year by lying down.
Verdict:
look out for the progress they make this year while gaining many
more adoring, loyal fans along the way.
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Listen live
Click
through amazing shots of London from high up in a helicopter!