You just can’t beat an evening in an intimate gig venue, with some talented indie rock artists and a pint. And this line-up did not disappoint. From heckling honkers, to flying cowboy hats, it was definitely a night to remember.
I had the pleasure of heading down to the lovely little venue of Brudenell Social Club in Leeds to check-out New York band, Geese. Who were supported by Folly Group & Cliché Cult for a night of indie rock. The venue certainly added to the edgy atmosphere that was echoed by the crowd that they brought down: a mixture of students, hard-core fans and the quirky inbetweeners.
Cliché Cult
The audience was efficiently warmed up by Leeds-based 4-piece indie/Post-Punk band, Cliché Cult. Jimmy Sweeney (vocals/guitar), Robin Green (drums), Jake Clayton (guitar) and Jimmy Ingham (bass).
They had a packed crowd to serenade with their relatable singalongs like, ‘Sweet Therapy’ and ‘Race Against Time.’ Lead singer and guitarist, Jimmy Sweeney, set the mood with his pretty terrible (but lowkey, quite hilarious) dad jokes before getting everyone on their feet and ready for the night.
Their tracks all have a moreish feel to them, and for me, feel very nostalgic. Cliché Cult are relatively under the radar in the indie music scene, but they definitely demand attention. Their unique sound, banter and genuine authenticity set them apart from the crowd. It almost felt like we were all just having a pint with our mates who are really good at playing music.
The vocals were definitely a standout feature of their set. Lead vocals, Jimmy Sweeney, wasn’t afraid of his routes as his Yorkshire accent was out in full force. Possibly some of the best live vocals I’ve heard in a long time. But maybe I’m just a soft touch for a Yorkshire twang.
I’d also just like to take a moment here to appreciate bass player Jimmy Ingham’s overall vibe throughout the whole set. Get that guy a microphone is all I’m saying.
Folly Group
After a quick interlude, Folly Group joined us on stage. This 4-piece Alternative/Indie group definitely brought a unique vibe to the stage. We were joined by Sean Harpe, Louis Milburn, Tom Doherty and covering artist Josh (I didn’t catch his last name) who was stepping in for Kai Akinde-Hummel who was at a wedding in Canada – I guess we’ll let him off.
They didn’t let a missing band member stop them from putting on a high-energy performance. Folly Group’s live performance was an experience in itself.
Folly Group seem to have carved a niche for themselves with their alternative and experimental music. Their sound is a melting pot of influences, from post-punk, to electronic, indie and alt among others.
They brought their studio experimentation to the stage with a very immersive atmosphere. They dare to be different and they’re not afraid of making their mark. Tracks like ‘Fashionista,’ and ‘Strange Neighbour’ are personal favourites that had me singing along, despite not knowing the lyrics.
Something I enjoyed the most about Folly Group’s performance was their interaction with their instruments. The interplay between them was both intricate and deliberate which provided an hypnotic experience. The vocals were stellar and the lyrics created an emotional resonance that lingered even when their set had finished.
They were a great choice to lead up to our headlining act.
Geese
At around 9:40, the lights went back down and we were greeted by New York band, Geese. An American Indie Rock band composed of Dominic DiGesu, Cameron Winter, Max Bassin, Gus Green and Foster Hudson.
By this time, the venue was packed and had hard-core fans making their way to the front, cowboy hats at the ready.
Geese are a relatively new band who have been making waves in the indie music scene since 2016. The Brooklyn-based band has quickly gained attention for their genre-blurring approach and thought-provoking lyrics. It’s hard to classify what genre Geese fit into; they’ve created a sound that is equally catchy as it is impressive.
I love how they just did their own thing, unapologetically. Swapping instrument mid-song? Sure. Sitting down playing guitar? Why not? Get comfy. The band’s enthusiasm for their craft doesn’t go unnoticed throughout the whole performance. Especially with lead vocalist Cameron’s passion in each song. He gave off an incredibly contagious energy as they bounced around the stage from vocals, to keyboard, to piano.
They played all of the crowd favourites from ‘2122’ to ‘Cowboy Nudes’ and a favourite of mine, ‘I See Myself.’ It’s definitely a ballad that I’d attempt on Karaoke. But maybe I’ll save it for the professionals.
The audience was vibing with the band throughout the whole set with their continuous heckling, or more specifically, ‘HONK-ing’… get it? So much so that Geese even put in an extra track to keep the ‘Exploding House’ guy happy, which they apparently hadn’t played since 2016, so it was a pretty big deal.
Another fan threw his cowboy hat on stage in hopes that it would become part of the act and Cameron didn’t disappoint. He sang a couple of sets with his new prop before lightly throwing it back into the crowd. I’m pretty sure the hat didn’t get back to its rightful owner, but that’s the price you pay when you throw your merch around.
I’m also pretty sure there was a mosh-pit at one point nearing the end of the night. I didn’t get involved but it looked like they were definitely feeling passionately inspired by Geese’s performance.
After what we thought was their final track, Geese surprised us with an encore which was almost as long as the gig itself. 3 songs later, they’d finally decided to call it a day with an incredible outro that stuck with you long after you’d left the venue.
Now, this is the first time I’ve heard of Geese but after the night I’d had, I even bought myself a T-Shirt, as modelled by Folly Group’s guitarist. I’d definitely catch them again if – let’s hope when – they’re back in Leeds!
Geese is a band that pushes the boundaries of indie music. They give a fearless exploration of genre, vocals, lyrics and overall vibes. If you’re in search of a fresh and invigorating band that challenges the stereotypical conventions, keep these guys on your radar.
Photography by Patrycja Maziarz.
