It feels like I’ve been waiting forever to see Leprous. I’ve been a fan of them for years but seemingly every time I plan to go and see them, something gets in the way of me going to the show. Thankfully, luck was finally with me this time round, and it was certainly worth the wait to see Leprous along with Agent Fresco and 22 because the gig was excellent.
Opening the night was 22. Hand-picked to be the opening support, 22 is a band that inspired both Leprous and Agent Fresco back when the bands formed, and you could really hear that in the music. 22 fit perfectly onto the bill and it was a pleasure to witness such a well-rounded performance from a band that really gave it their all. Despite having not listened to their music prior to the show, there was a nice familiarity to it and I certainly plan on checking out their back catalogue when I get the chance.
“I’m sorry we keep talking about batteries!” mused Agent Fresco‘s frontman Arnór after his third request for AA batteries for his in-ear monitor as the band’s set was coming to an end, but despite the setback, it was still a fantastic show from them. Having seen them supporting Katatonia a few years ago in London, I expected great things from their performance and they didn’t disappoint. There’s something hypnotic about their music and it really draws you in; it’s very immersive and powerful, and it’s always backed up with a solid live performance to go with it. With the performance rounding up with Arnór in the crowd, it was another satisfying show – but next time I’m going to bring some batteries in case they run into the same difficulty again! 😉
The set from Leprous began with a cello solo from Raphael Weinroth-Browne, who also performed on the band’s latest album Malina, and it was a striking way to get things underway before the full band joined in to fully begin the night with Bonneville, which really packed a punch live. Keeping mainly to songs from Malina and their previous album The Congregation, the set could have perhaps benefited from a little more variation but that’s only a minor complaint because it was still a treat to hear every song included in the set – it was all killer and no filler, and even featured a Massive Attack cover!
Although it may be cliche to say, the highlight of the performance was their rendition of their single The Price. Practically the whole room joined in singing along to the introduction and the chorus sounded absolutely massive. There was just something about this song that sounded even more magical in a live environment, and it was a real pleasure to be a part of it.
Needless to say, my wait to see Leprous was worth it, especially when coupled with two other fantastic bands in addition to them. It was a night where you could just get lost in the beautiful music from start to finish – and it was a real treat to bear witness to.
9/10
