The Coral are back in Leeds and they're stripped to their bare bones in terms of line-up. At 5 members, they are visually a far cry away from the days when their group consisted of multiple percussionists and Bill Ryder Jones (the band's original guitarist who left in 2008). The same can't be said for the music. The Coral sound as strong and as band member-heavy as ever.
The o2 Academy on Cookridge Street is the site of tonight's music exploration. With it's potential capacity of over 2000, excluding the balcony seating, it is the perfect place to showcase The Coral's material.
Anyone here tonight hoping to hear 'Dreaming of You' will have to wait until the end of the set (the second encore to be precise) because The Coral play by their own rules and they're not here to bash out the greatest hits. They've got a new(ish) album to play for the crowd tonight and nothing is going to stop them.
Before the Liverpool-based group take to the stage though, we arrive in time to see support band Cherry Ghost enchant the crowd. This five-piece from Bolton waste no time winning over those in attendance, their set opener assures this with its low, tribal drums and rhythmic bass.
Cherry Ghost continue this trend with the remainder of their set.
They are a decent band, but it is quickly obvious why they are supporting the Coral. Not only have they not yet reached the musical heights in term of creativity of their peers, but they sound awfully similar to tonight's headliners.
Some songs feature trumpet led solos and middle sections and this is definitely an avenue they should pursue as it distinguishes them from other similar indie bands and pushes them away from the Coral comparisons.
Having said that the crowd enjoys what they see and hear and give Cherry Ghost a well deserved reception. They bid us farewell to applause and cheers.
After an interlude of Merseybeat infused songs which pumps up the baying crowd to exploding point, the Coral casually make their way on stage. 'Hello,' James Skelly greets us before the group burst into 'More Than A Lover', the second single from recent album Butterfly House.
It soon becomes clear that the set list for tonight's gig will be comprised mostly of songs taken from Butterfly House, and the crowd aren't complaining. A psychedelic, backwards-guitar featuring interlude leads us into '1000 Years', arguably the poppiest track the Liverpudlians have released in some time. Versions of 'Two Faces', 'Coney Island' and 'Green Is The Colour' silence non-believers of their new material. Falling All Around You is beautiful and if it wasn't for the fact that most of tonight's crowd are rowdy middle aged men there might be some teary eyes.
Respectful of the crowd, the band do play some old tunes to keep the people who bought their tickets solely to hear 'Pass It On' and 'Dreaming Of You' in check. A mesmerising rendition of 'Jacqueline' from the 'Roots and Echoes' album is a definite highlight.
Thrown into the mix are some covers. One, a version of the Beatles' lesser known track Things We Said Today mystifies those watching.
The band polish off their set with two encores, teasing the crowd with Dreaming Of You until the very end. When that famous bassline rolls and the drums kick in, the crowd erupts.
An excellently played gig then. Not that anyone's surprised. After years of gigging, recording and managing to break through the NME-imposed wall of being lumbered together with noughties bands The Hives, The Libertines and The Strokes, the Coral have emerged as one of Britain's best bands.
Tonight they don't disappoint.
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