Everyone's Mixtape

The Neighbourhood, 15th November, The Deaf Institute, Manchester

Published on Silent Radio

 As The Neighbourhood take to the stage they ooze an effortless cool.  The LA five-piece rocketed in popularity after being selected as Zane Lowe’s Hottest Record in the World on Radio 1, with their infectious single ‘Sweater Weather’. As a band bathed in anonymity in their beginnings, and with a penchant for drip-feeding songs they have rightfully gathered a steady stream of hype. After a sold out show at the Borderline in London last night, they play The Deaf Institute - the penultimate of a trio of UK dates.

Under the obscure lighting, the band are clad in black from head to toe. It’s this collective aesthetic of dark and shade and a proclivity to the colours black and white, that bleeds into the ethos of the band and the way their music videos and merchandise appear. 

The attempt to warm up a crowd can be difficult enough, even more so when it’s a new song. So starting with ‘Let It Go’ was a brave decision. It was executed wonderfully.  The layered guitars with the heavier hip hop drum and speedier vocal delivery continues on with the RnB tendencies that they have flirted with on previous material. The lyric, “remember what the people said” lingered long after it had been sung.  Front man, Jesse Rutherford cuts a slender figure.  His tattoos creep from under his collar and at points he swings the microphone as if channelling an inner Roger Daltrey.

The elusive quintet released their debut EP ‘I’m Sorry...’ earlier this year, and it was played in its entirety tonight. ‘Wires’ is enamoured with RnB inclinations but also simultaneously projects a hazy, brooding pop sensibility. Predictably, ‘Sweater Weather’ with its dreamy pop melody inspired the biggest sing-along of the night. The refrain “It’s too cold / for you here/ and now so let me hold both your hands in / the holes of my sweater”, being sang back at the band with gusto - possibly due to the nostalgia of it being the soundtrack to most people’s summer. The upbeat then shifts to the melancholic with the repetition of “whoa whoa”.

‘Leaving Tonight’ isn’t just a highlight off the EP, but in a live setting and as their set closer it proved to one of the pinnacles of the night. Bassist, Mikey Margott and drummer, Bryan Sammis depart the stage momentarily leaving the remaining members to deliver a poignant performance. Rutherford’s vocal was shown to its greatest ability – like when a peacock shows off its elaborate plumage. You could hear the ounces of emotion permeating through his voice, and the intricate guitar playing from Zachary Abels and Jeremy Freedman came to the fore too.  With Margott and Sammis returning to the stage towards the climax of the track they added a rock edge to the subtle rendition and elevated it.

Although this was The Neighbourhood’s first appearance in Manchester and probably nowhere near to selling out, I can assure you that the next time they visit it will be.

Hottest Record In The World

Foals teased fans earlier in the week with a looped clip from 'Inhaler'. It pointed towards the Foals that we're familiar with and lead us down the wrong route. The result being an unexpected and pleasant one nonetheless. At 7.30pm, Inhaler was the track that united the listeners of Radio 1. It's the first song to be played from their third album, 'Holy Fire' which is expected in February 2012.

You can hear the influence that Foals have on bands all the time, so this new direction is welcomed. They don't try to escape the sound that is synonymously Foals but 'Inhaler' is heavier in every sense and the vocals a little more strained at the crux of the track. Once you're lulled into a false sense of security with the sounds that are present on Antidotes and Total Life Forever, you're roused by the cacophony that erupts from this robust outing from the Oxford quintet.

My reaction to this is the same as when I first head Antidotes - one of instant love. Whilst for me, Total Life Forever was a slow burner. I can't wait to hear what comes with Holy Fire.

Watch the video above. You can see Yannis sporting a rather snazzy jacket. I've never been so jealous of someone's attire since Mary Berry popped onto our screens last month on The Great British Bake Off decked out in her canary yellow, floral bomber. 

Somebody call 999, Richard Hawley's been robbed...again

Alt-J have swiped this year's Mercury music prize. After being tipped as one of the favourites from the beginning, the quartet have nabbed a £20,000 cash prize beating off competitors in singer-songwriter's Jessie Ware and Lianne La Havas, Sunderland duo Field Music and former Pulp guitarist Richard Hawley to name a few.

Alt-J have experienced a meteoric rise over this past year. From receiving stellar reviews of their LP and live shows, to packing out venues ever since Fitzpleasure wormed its way into our eardrums. For me, I think they are deserved winners, I either wanted Alt-J or The Maccabees to win - both bands who I've been fortunate enough to see live. The former much more recent during Liverpool Sound City in May this year. It was one of the performances that I needed to see and in such an intimate venue as the Kazimier, they certainly impressed. Have a listen to Matilda below - one of the highlights off the four-piece's debut, An Awesome Wave.

The award show will be shown tomorrow on Channel 4 at 11.35pm.