26 May 2011 (gig)
28 May 2011
Tonight, Heaven is full of people interested in seeing Pete and the Pirates. Not fans of the band; even though they've sold out this fair-sized venue, there's still an uncomfortable feeling that most people are here just to check them out. This is not a converted crowd, and with a well-received sophomore album on the shelves, it feels like an underachievement.
The lack of atmosphere could be blamed on the over 18 crowd, all web developers and media buyers on a work night out, clutching drinks and thus disabling their dancing and clapping capability. There's a small knot of people pogoing at the front, which grows a little when the singles are played, but the row of pints set down on the front of the stage never looks in serious danger.
This is a puzzle, because the Pirates' canon is already stocked with weighty balls after two records. 'Knots', 'Mr Understanding', and set closer 'Half Moon Street' rollock along with genuine carefree abandon, while the "it doesn't matter at all" refrain of 'Come To The Bar' should be uniting the faithful in song. As should, naturally, 'United'.
The band have a friendly, unassuming presence, with little chat between songs, and Tom Sanders seems more comfortable as frontPete than before, shirt buttoned-up and tucked-in, moving like a less christian Stuart Murdoch or a more christian Brett Anderson. The Pirates, meanwhile, have the distinct advantage of subtly different onstage personalities - the geeky guitarist who also prods the keys on the new numbers, the studiously cool lead guitarist, and the lanky bassist with his legs spread perhaps a little wide for the jangle-pop of 'She Doesn't Belong To Me'.
The newer numbers do showcase a groovier, more driving sound, and it is here that the key to their future success lies. Although undeniably a post-Strokes outfit, 'Little Death' had a foot in the 90s, with shades of Supergrass and even Space in their anthems, which may well account for the strangely mature crowd they pull. If this was 1995, they'd be playing these songs to an Astoria-full of happy bouncing kids. But their ship will have to sail further into unknown waters to hit those heights today.
