Artists: Bangers

Venue: The Fenton, Leeds

Review by: Andy Duckworth

YOU know there is a buzz about a band when the promoter has to push people deeper into the venue in order to accommodate the waves of people still stuffing themselves through the doors.

Travelling north to support the release of their debut album Small Pleasures, Cornish band Bangers have an unrelenting DIY work ethic and are no strangers to the road racking up over 100 shows in the past 12 months alone.

Wasting no time at the packed out pub, the three piece flew into a blistering set, full of crowd-pleasers and catchy riffs that justified the persistence of their fans in cramming themselves in like sardines.

Bassist, Andy Horne, thanks the other bands and the fans that have made the trip down, adding that he feels like he’s on familiar territory as he used to live in Leeds.

With this, they launch into ‘A New Raymondo’ from their recently released album.

With driving drums and melodic hooks it is easy to predict that Small Pleasures will not be a disappointment to their listeners.

Shortly before they close there is a brief intermission during which vocalist, Roo Pescod, exchanges instruments with the guitarist from opening band Glass Avalanche, after breaking a string.

Once tuned up he turns to the crowd and asks what they’d like.

Someone calls out for their hit Banging, to which Roo says with a smile, “Sometimes I think we should just turn up, play that and bugger off.”

Soon after, they give in to popular demand, finishing off the set with Banging before making their way to the merch stand to sell CDs and T-shirts.

If tonight’s show is anything to go by I don’t think they’ll be having to sell their own shirts for much longer.