Los Campesinos / You Say Party! We Say Die!/Attack + Defend - Southampton Joiners 30/10/07

Hold on now youngster, this is a good thing to look into the maw of the void, but let's not be excessive, there is still Los Campesinos!... etc etc.
Los Campesinos! are a Cardiff based septet, who play probably the best indie pop in the world - actualy they do. Ever since i was introduced to them by a friend I wanted to see them and my dream finally came true, albeit in a dingy room off St Marys street.



Its nine o'clock and attack+defend are about to begin. A quick glance around quickly filling joiners confirms that yes - we are probably some of the youngest people amongst the hundred or so Uni Students. Prepare for alot of standing around clutching a glass of carling and looking at your shoes guys.
The night commences with a thankfully short set from attack+defend, who musically are about as strong as the piss strength lager puddled around my feet. Its not that thier sound specifically annoys me, its more that they sound quite like The Young Knives. Well played. In any case, they didn't annoy me as much as the satin peaches did a couple of weeks ago, so alls good. Up next was You Say Party! We Say Die! and the regret of not listening to the promo i picked up in town at the weekend is already kicking in, but a pretty solid set nonetheless from the Canadian indie-poppers.

With the Southampton crowd suitably tenderized, it was time for team Campesinos to finish this bitch. They begin with "broken heartbeats sound like breakbeats" which is announced as "you wont have heard this one" (i have though. yep). Making their way steadily through their small catalogue of Pavement inspired melodies, Gareth Campesinos points at the air conditioning at the back. "the air conditioning says 29 degrees. we're gonna turn that up", before ripping into "you! me! dancing!" met by cheers of approval from the throng of fans at the front. Los Camepsinos manage to make the Joiners theirs for the evening, and even though its obvious they havent been doing the band thing that long, they still played a good show - concluding with all seven band members standing up for the last few lines of "Sweet dreams, Sweet Cheeks", sending the audience back onto Southampon's harsh streets that little bit happier and warmer. By the way, the air conditioning read 30 degrees at the end of the night. Not bad.

Los Campesinos 9/10
You Say Party! We Say Die! 7/10
Attack+Defend 5/10

Attack + Defend - Garibaldi
You Say Party! We Say Die! - Monster
Los Campesinos! - You! Me! Dancing!