With the Easter holidays arriving, I have to admit that I had very little planned. So little, in fact, that I decided to come straight from my day job as a coffee shop supervisor, to witness my second gig in four straight days.
While Orbital was an experience which has been covered by Leeds Living, not seventy-two hours after I arrived at the O2 Academy Leeds I returned to see the Madchester-massive garage rock band, Inspiral Carpets. If you want the short version, I can summarise it in one sentence: the sun was shining, the crowd was booming, and the atmosphere was electric.
From the Moor End disco in Oldham in 1983, perhaps few knew the potential Inspiral Carpets would go on to fulfil. They would become greatly associated with the musical and cultural scene in Manchester in the late 1980s. With their creative juices gelling with the indie dance scene, the group would go on to receive much exposure from playing with the likes of the Stone Roses and Happy Mondays in the late 80s. They would become so ingrained in British culture that they would receive achieve countless hit singles, and be featured prominently on BBC’s Radio 1.
The band may have aged, and the line-ups may have changed, but as Inspiral Carpets reunited in the autumnal months of 2022, they declared a live tour of the United Kingdom for the first time in nine years. From the tragedy which befell drummer Craig Gill seven years ago, the band felt a need to capture the hearts of fans of yesteryear, of the present, and of the future.
For how DIY the garage rocking band from the 1980s are, Inspiral Carpets are undoubtedly creative with a capital “C”. Once upon a time, as their first record label went bankrupt, the group formed their own record label named “Cow Records”. The band’s trademark logo was sketched by bandmate Clint Boon, depicting a cow with the band’s key mantra: “Moo”, which was the chant heard through this night, signalling the devotion of diehard fans for their favourite band.
With a sellout crowd of over 2,000 people crammed into O2 Academy Leeds, DJ Dave Sweetmore created the mood for the evening between sets, with a terrific blend of classics. The seasoned radio presenter entering his twenty-second year of DJing with a variety of music, taking this reviewer straight back to the early-2000s. It was nostalgia in its purest form, and provided excellent background for the room to natter away and have a drink or two.
Young rockers The Solution took to the stage first, letting it all hang out with a unique style reminiscent of that of an early Joy Division or Sonic Youth. It was quite something to see such youthful artists paying homage to some of the all-time greats in music history, and it loaned stylistically to the “Madchester” vibe which Inspiral Carpets intended. The vocalist was witty with a carefree approach, easily admitting he would “surely mess up” and “forget the words” to his own songs.
Finally, Inspiral Carpets arrived to capture the capacity crowd with their refined and authentic sound. Many remarked that it was far from their first time witnessing the band in the flesh, and that much had to be believed. With such a committed following rejoicing at the opportunity to witness Inspiral Carpets first time playing Leeds in years, the veterans proved that they hadn’t skipped a beat.
It was a great time to see the band on their first stop back in Leeds after a near decade away. It was even more fitting that when telling my Dad all about this gig on Easter Sunday, he had some great memories himself of the band. It made me believe all the more that they have a lot left in the tank, and that makes me eager to see and hear what awaits us next in the band’s journey towards legendary status.
A great Easter weekend peaked wonderfully with such a great show at the O2.
Happy Easter (we hope it was) and keep your eyes peeled for Inspiral Carpets the next time they come to town!
Inspiral Carpets continue with their highly coveted reunion tour on Thursday, April 13 in Glasgow. With dates remaining over the next two weeks in places including Sheffield, London, Coventry and Frome. Do be aware! Several of these shows are already sold out, so you’ll have to act fast! Check out their website https://inspiralcarpets.com for more.
Dave Sweetmore continues to serenade different parts of the country on a weekly basis. Learn more and inquire about this jack of all trades’ services by heading to his website at https://davesweetmore.com.
The Solution continue to cut their teeth in their hometown of Manchester, with upcoming dates on May 5 at Gullivers and May 31 at Manchester. You can check them out and show your support at https://www.instagram.com/thesolution_band.
All photography by Emma Gibbon.
