GIG REVIEWS

Idlewild
@ Leeds University
7th December 2002
www.vanguard-online.co.uk

 There are worse things than a bad gig. One of them is a boring gig and Idlewild gave us one of those. They played all the well known stuff plus a bit more and the crowd was in a frenzy whenever Roddy said hello. The light show was very professional. The lead guitarist was in a jumping, spinning reverie. The drums were tight and insistent. Somehow, despite all this the evening was utterly undistinguished. If you have the CDs, you'd recognise the tunes. Otherwise, the songs blend into one, each a copy of the last - either loud indie rock or anthemic ballad. Bland music with Roddy chuntering over the top. No peaks, no troughs, no musical tension, no variety, no sense of a musical journey taking place. I really wanted to like Idlewild but there are a hundred more original or memorable bands that deserve your patronage more.

Ross McGibbon