Shred Yr Face Tour- Los Campesinos! at the Irish Centre, Leeds, October 16

Tonight after eating horrible food and driving endlessly around Leeds for hours we are not in the best of moods. When finally arriving at the Irish Centre we’re very stressed and very late. Luckily there’s a band about to come onstage to make it all worthwhile. A band who can raise a smile out of every audience member in seconds.

You see, Los Campesinos! are the happiest band around. Tonight as they appear fresh faced and launch into ‘Ways To Make It Through The Wall’ the room instantly lights up as their twee anthems fills our faces with glee. Playing a mixture of new and old material, occasionally mellow tracks are ignored by the crowd who are eager to hear more familiar songs, yet the band continue to give one of their best performances to date. With the stage so low to the ground the audience and band quickly merge creating a great party atmosphere. As the band finish with ‘Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks’ lead singer Gareth rumbles into the crowd, only to be lifted by two worthy fans and then carried to the back of the venue. While the remaining members dot around the room we can’t help but follow suit and dance all our troubles away.

As the band leave the stage audience members are actually hugging each other with a sense of joy and accomplishment and we can’t help but feel the same. Suddenly trying to get home doesn’t seem like so much of a worry.