Gig Review: Maximo Park (8/10/09)

Originally published 19/10/09 in Student Direct: The Mancunion and 13/10/09 on http://www.rookiefm.blogspot.com/  

4 Stars

 Skinny jeans are out in force tonight in Manchester, though none looking quite as good as they do on Hot Club De Paris, who play an impressively tight set despite battling against a half-empty venue.
 The place quickly fills for the main attraction and eventually, amidst disco lights and a smokescreen, they emerge, launching straight into A19; “we are Maximo Park” hear us roar.
 A welcome break from the usual indie uniform of checked shirts, black wire frames and ironically asymmetric haircuts; in their smart suits and trilbies, Maximo Park are every inch sophisticated, film-noir chic. It’s rare to see a drummer in any type of shirt, much less one with a collar and cuffs, these guys are definitely serious contenders for Britain’s best-dressed band. The Apollo serves as an epic, theatrical stage for what is more a cabaret show than a rock gig; an observation validated when, after rattling through a few of their best singles, a five-piece brass ensemble join them to give latest album, Quicken the Heart a cool, retro edge.
 The band are on form, but despite a flawless delivery, are quickly overshadowed by frontman Paul Smith, offering little more than background music for Smith’s energetic onstage antics. He acts out every lyric, punching a megaphone triumphantly into the air to screech out the chorus to Quicken The Heart, and clutches the mic stand for emotional support whilst belting out the Parisien Skies in unison with the crowd.

 The stage suddenly takes on an element of horror, and the lighting glows as Smith stalks the stage during Russian Literature, his shadow super-sized on the wall behind him as the crowd jostle to get closer. It’s hard to believe that this ex-teacher ever thought that he "wasn’t frontman material". Crooning out an encore of Acrobats and Our Velocity, they save the best for last as the latter of these generates the closest thing to a mosh pit I’ve seen all night.

Verdict: A good show but it’s Smith that sticks in your mind: his effortless showmanship makes for an electric atmosphere. Maximo Park? Try The Paul Smith Experience.

Maximo Park's latest album Quicken The Heart, released on Warp Records, 11th May 2009, is available from their online store: http://www.recordstore.co.uk/maximopark/