22 June 2007 (gig)
02 July 2007
It’s amazing what only three months and a top 40 hit can do. Elliot Minor’s last tour - pre-debut single release - brought them to the Bar Academy here in the capital and their return tonight has forced an upgrade to the main venue itself. The anticipation preceding the young band’s appearance on stage is so loaded, they arrive to a demi-heroes’ welcome. But the most important point of now is that fact they came here via a virginal Download initiation, which has seriously put hair on their musical balls.
Launching into a significantly sexed-up set, the band’s presentation alone is enough to augment a change: larger stage, drums on a riser and notably the new confidence of lead vocalist Alex Davies, who is developing his own stage style and gradually marking his territory as frontman. It’s not a particularly rebellious stance - though it may never be - and his extremely melodic vocal, which articulates impressively well live, clearly benefits from guitarist Ed Minton’s harder harmonies. But Elliot Minor are sounding more and more like the rock group they strive to be. And the sheer volume at which they play justifies the fact they lovingly survived the Donington baptism of fire without a bottling.
The band are also steadily steering their mission to be something different - and credible - by summoning myriad instruments to the live platform, among the numerous guitar changes. Tonight sees the debut of an electric violin break - another string to Davies' bow (no pun intended) - in forthcoming single 'Jessica', which meets with raucous approval. Though this is nothing compared to the outpouring of mental for its chart predecessor 'Parallel Worlds'. The climax of the night definitely packs the most powerful punch and vehemently reminds the crowd why they (wisely) took notice of Elliot Minor in the first place.
It all goes a tad 'Butlins' however when Alex and Ed announce a dance-off in order to win some merch and then hurl a load of glowsticks at the rampant horde. Stunts like these will definitely nurture Elliot Minor’s current key audience and anchor them in 'boy band bay'. But by losing such an interlude and continuing to rock things up a notch each time, a return to Download for this potentially brilliant band will surely be inevitable next year.
