Athlete

The last time we caught up with Athlete they were on course for achieving their ambition. To sell out Brixton Academy. A year and a half on and things have exceeded all expectations. A number one album, a top ten single and about to embark on a sell out tour. That tour opened tonight in the aircraft hangar that passes for Leeds University refectory.

Whilst hitting number one, Tourist, the latest offering has received criticism in some places. Many believing it's success is down to hanging on the coat tails of it's predecessor, the very excellent, Vehicles and Animals.

They are being criticized for taking the Coldplay route with a lot more down tempo numbers on the new release. It was going to be interesting, therefore to see how the newer songs were going to be received this evening.

The crowd certainly don't seem averse to the new songs. Trading Air and Twenty Four Hours are particularly well received, though it does seem that the more uptempo Modern Mafia gets the best response.

However with the exception of top ten single Wires, which prompted a good quarter of the audience to whip out their mobile phones, it is the old songs that get the rapturous reception. Classics like You Got The Style, Westside and Beautiful get the expected response but lesser known songs such as Shake Those Windows are as well received. As for singalong quality,Vehicles and Animals finds the crowd in good voice.

The band look visibly moved by their transition to biggish name players and without the hype received by some of their counterparts. More than once they thank their fans for all they have done. This band look like they actually mean it.

Whilst those around them appear to be waiting for them to fall, tonight's performance and the reception it receives suggests that the fall could be a very long way off.

FUTURE GIGS

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