ShareGang of Youths performing their Angel In Realtime Tour at Rock City Nottingham on Friday 18th November 2022.
Review by Kevin Cooper
It was a packed Rock City that turned out to see Australian alternative rock band Gang Of Youths who are touring their third studio album, Angel In Realtime.
Now living in London, David Le’aupepe and Co changed continents so as to be able to lead a more anonymous lifestyle, but on looking at the size of this Friday night crowd that didn’t quite go to plan.
Opening with the big crashing What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out? they immediately made an impact. Beyond front man Le’aupepe’s utterly engaging stage presence, the rest of the band were also exceptional. Jung Kim and Tom Hobden effortlessly switched between various instruments without missing a beat, and bassist Max Dunn and drummer Donnie Borzestowski went hell for leather in support.
Whilst showcasing several new songs, they treated this crowd to some of their heavier rock style music from Go Farther In Lightness, their second album. For The Heart Is A Muscle Le’aupepe’s unbounded energy was infectious and Let Me Down Easy was easily the biggest hit of the night and with Hobden’s outstanding violin work, the crowd exploded, screaming and singing along.
The band seamlessly shifted from rousing anthems to atmospheric ballads, with a carefully crafted set list that was a perfect balance of both euphoria and tenderness. With songs from the new album functioning as a eulogy for Le’aupepe’s deceased father, some were of course particularly poignant.
A standout number was Tend The Garden, with its melody speeding up and slowing down in all of the correct places. There was the tender Brothers that saw Le’aupepe behind the piano delivering impossibly rich vocals and encouraging the crowd to sway in unison.
Creating an utterly unique atmosphere with the fans, Magnolia had the crowd hanging on Le’aupepe’s every word. And as the band played the first notes of In The Wake Of Your Leave, the lights turned into a starry sky and the crowd joined in for a hollering sing along which continued long after the song was over.
For the encore there was Do Not Let Your Spirit Wane, which finished a set that saw the band deliver a performance that was both musically flawless and limitlessly engaging.