..from the Islington gazette......

LIVE REVIEW: The Lazy Darlings

05 August 2009

Hope & Anchor, Upper Street, N1

YOU might not realise it, but every single night of the week scores of bands from all over the UK knock off work early, pack up their kit in a hired transit van and set the Satnav for the long journey to Islington or Camden - all for the love of the music, man.

The majority will be traipsing back home before the last power chord has died out and back at their desk bleary-eyed the morning after.

Most hope to win a few new fans, or at the very least play a gig for their ....London.... mates who might know someone who knows someone who knows something about bagging a record deal.

Or maybe (in the next life) that A&R man who said "give me a call if you're ever playing in ....London...." might actually get off his arse and come down and see you?

Making the 400 mile round trip down the M1 from Leeds to ..

Upper Street

.. and back tonight is The Lazy Darlings - relative newcomers in band years but packed to the rafters with (young-ish) veterans from ..Leeds..' eclectic and underrated music scene.

I had heard good things from my sources in the north, and I wasn't disappointed.

Propelled by the catchy country-pop melodies of frontman Dave James (ex-Cardboard Cowboy), the four-piece pack a mean punch live - their rudimentary racket conjuring up the spirit of Goats Head Soup-era Rolling Stones on Laura.

James' gravel-and-sand voice may be an acquired taste for some, but personally I'd rather listen to the wayward genius of Dylan than the latest soulless X-factor no-hoper.

Some sweet female backing vocals get a little lost in the mix but it all comes together for the band's calling card Life Is Easy - a great pop single redolent of Belle & Sebastian classic Lazy Line Painter Jane.

It's a long way back to ..Yorkshire.., but for what it's worth this is one Londoner who will be first in the queue the next time these dedicated diehards hit the long road south. - MATT HUMPHREYS