LEAP in concert

ON EVENING AT KNUST

Why it's worth swapping the sofa for a concert and what wine bottles have to do with rock n roll

Photocredit: Nordisch by Musik

Tuesday evening, shortly before nine. I'm not at home, but at the Knust in Hamburg. My red leather sofa has been exchanged for one (ok, two) cups of beer and concert earplugs.

I let my eyes wander over the crowd: an average age under 30, heaps of sympathetic faces and a preference for black clothes. In red neon letters LEAP shines on the stage, the first steam engine is already on, it all seems very manageable and intimate.

Going to a concert requires a certain amount of overcoming for me. But with the newcomer band from England I love to make an exception. After three sold-out shows in London, LEAP are now on the road in Europe. It's their first tour of Germany. Well, they haven't been around that long. Their first EP was released last fall. Since then, their nine sound pearls have thrilled the indie rock scene.

At nine o'clock sharp (hello Deutsche Bahn!) the time has come. The four Brits come on stage. Drummer Hector Cottam kicks things off, followed by guitarist Adam Mason, the band's 'Jedi', a rather quiet frontman who is most comfortable behind his riffs and background vocals. He joined the band last. Whereas Hector Cottam and vocalist Jack Balfour Scott go back a long way. Since they were four years old, they form an inseparable duo. Bassist Declan 'Bulls-Eye' Brown from Johannesburg completes the ensemble, he and Jack provide the atmosphere on stage.

My first impression of lead singer Jack Balfour is a Mick Jagger knock-off. Too cool for the world with sunglasses, leather jacket and the glint of rock n roll in his eyes. The black leather jacket gives way to a T-shirt during the concert, and that to a white undershirt. With this it is possible to rock quite famously. We Hamburgers are just too hot for the Brits. No wonder with all the youngsters. In general, a very female audience here, with a quarter male share.

Already at the first beats I recognize this typical LEAP sound. Wide guitars, epic drum beats and roaring vocals. Or indie grunge with a touch of electronica. You don't get the impression with LEAP that you are facing a newcomer band. They know what they're doing and exude that rock n roll vibe, that young and boisterous flair that has won them a loyal fan base since their debut EP last fall. They are at the beginning of their career and we get to be a part of it.

But first, let's warm up and set the mood. But don't worry, there's plenty of it. At the first song you notice how text-sure the fans are. It sings and bawls around me. When my favorite song SleepWalker is intoned, I can also sing along. They have also brought their new single - so much is already betrayed, the sound pearl joins seamlessly in the success story of the previous singles.

Photocredit: Nordisch by Musik

A somewhat quieter part of the evening follows. Quasi the breather. Or as singer Jack Balfour says:

"We consider ourselves rock n roll. But, we have feelings, you know..."

There's not much time for dreaming, though, because their very first single, Sick Sense, follows right after. Before that, Jack Balfour asks if there are any wine lovers in the audience. A roaring crowd quickly clarifies the answer. Without further ado, small wine bottles fly from the stage into the audience. I think one broke... Anyone can throw drum sticks. Although they'll end up flying, too. Maybe the wine bottles raise morale for flying bras?

It's Crazy time in any case. Or Loose Some shit time. That's right - Circle of Death time! To get the baseline right, a comparison is made with Düsseldorf. Supposedly the most crazy crowd of the century down there. Does somebody want stress there, or what? Well, we want to top that right away. No sooner said than done...

As if this would be a crowning conclusion of the evening, they left the stage drenched in sweat.

Of course the audience demanded an encore, of course LEAP came back.

The first encore song Friday Night was written in dark times. It was a time when the frontman felt like a strange outsider. But he emerges stronger from the story. "We should celebrate to be different," he shouts into the microphone. "No one wants to be normal!" Thunderous approval in the audience. Let's sign it right away!

The very last song of the evening is One Million Pieces and felt the soul of rock n roll. Once again giving everything. Both on and in front of the stage. Jack Balfour jumps into the crowd to bend us to our knees. Only to then jump up together with everyone. He has us in his grip, this charming Brit. A rock n roll star to touch. With all the success they can already show in their young band history, arrogance is not noticeable to them. Quite the opposite. They invite the fans to stay and drink a beer or wine with them. Hopefully there are only bras flying...

Conclusion? Concerts can be really fun (I forgot that). Especially when you listen to such a great band like LEAP.

Four young, charming Brits who will not only follow in the footsteps of Rock n Roll, but will leave a lasting mark on it.

I have an inkling of how it started with the rock legends.

Exactly like this.

Listen and Rock