Riding the crest of the rising post punk wave, LIFE quickly grew into cult status after being introduced to the world via support slots for troublesome Tunbridge Wells duo Slaves and Bristol’s best loved band IDLES. Following the release of debut album Popular Music and a tremendous amount of love and support courtesy of Steve Lamacq, singer Mez Green, his brother and guitarist Mick plus drummer Stew Baxter and bassist Lydia Palmeira, the Hull based quartet have continued to grow and their brand new third album North East Costal Town has benefitted from a tremendous amount of airplay on BBC 6music.
But when we meet up with them at The Bodega, the Nottingham hot spot which never fails to bring the best cutting-edge acts, we find a band exhausted even before they’re onstage. Maybe that’s no big surprise, they have already played sixteen headline dates and their known for their energetic onstage persona. But it is more than the usual demands of a gruelling tour, with extraordinary economic strains and the rising fuel prices, its proven too costly to play many of their major shows which has seriously skewed the European leg forcing them to cancel three dates. A serious shame for anyone, especially after the huge reaction they’ve been getting all around France. It seems no matter what you do, not matter how hard you try, sometimes life just gets in the way.
Photograph courtesy of Jimi Arundell (@JimiA)
But despite their disappointments, ever the professionals all the lethargy immediately melts away as they walk onstage with three of their biggest hitters, the unhinged “Big Moon Lake”, fan favourite “Hollow Thing” and frenetic song “Excites Me” which prompts athletic scissor kicks from Mick, big bass spins from Lydia and Mez’s enigmatic dance moves which amalgamate the OTT geek chic of Jarvis Cocker, David Byrne’s outlandish showmanship and the chaotic desperation of Ian Curtis’ dead fly.
We are treated to a sixteen-track set, drawn heavily from their latest LP and brooding chant “Shipping Forecast”, radio-friendly single “The Drug” and the disjointed disco reveal a band at a creative high and sets LIFE miles apart from the post punk posers thinking they can get by with a handful of political slogans plus some bashed-up Doc Martans. We cannot say it enough, if you don’t already own a copy of North East Costal Town – go grab it right now!
Stand out songs included the truly epic “Friends Without Names”, the lead single and opening track of their latest LP, whose themes of on the road alienation, travel weariness and tour fatigue perfectly sums up the band’s frame of mind right now. Plus, boisterous anthem “Bum Hour” which gave second album A Picture Of Good Health the bouncy anthem the rowdier elements of the audience were needing to unleash their excitement in the bulging pit. And of course, there is another explosion of energy from their growing number of adoring fans during “Popular Music” which the Humberside heroes rattle through at breakneck speed.
Photograph courtesy of Jimi Arundell (@JimiA)
The night ends on a sombre yet poignant note, as Stew abandons his skins in favour of a guitar with the full band at the front of the stage for final number “Duck Egg Blue”, an ode to their strength of unity no matter the frustration. Given some of the trials they’ve been facing, they’ll need that solidarity more than ever! A simple “Ta” and waves of goodbye to onlookers who can’t wait for their return.
LIFE wrap up their U.K. tour this week. And now, they announce an extra headline date at Scala in London where they will be joined by Driffield born punk rock degenerates Priestgate – don’t miss out and grab your tickets with Gigantic now!
Photograph courtesy of Hannah Gascoyne (@HannahSiam)
📅 October
11/10 LIFE – Patterns, Brighton
12/10 LIFE – Scala, London
LIFE tickets are currently available with Gigantic.