Birmingham's O2 Institute played host to Manchester indie stalwarts The Slow Readers Club last Friday, with the band treating fans to something rather special, a full performance of their beloved 2015 album, "Cavalcade." Here's how the night unfolded...
Walking into the venue, we're greeted by a fairly sparse crowd gathered for openers The Cheap Thrills. Those who arrived early were in for a treat though, as the support act brought a truck full of energy to their set. Despite the thin numbers, The Cheap Thrills threw themselves into their performance with abandon, winning over early arrivals with their infectious enthusiasm. By the time they wrapped up, the room had filled considerably, with latecomers no doubt kicking themselves for missing such a brilliant opening act.
As the changeover concluded and the lights dimmed, the now-packed O2 Institute erupted with the familiar cry of "READERRRRS," a chant that would punctuate the spaces between every single song throughout the night. The Slow Readers Club emerged, diving straight into the opening track from "Cavalcade."
What followed was a journey through "Cavalcade." Aaron Starkie's vocals soared through the venue, while the band played through the album like they had just written it.
The second song of the night, "I Saw A Ghost," was an early highlight for me. It's not only my favourite song, but according to the singing from the crowd, it was also theirs. The atmosphere in the room only grew as the album progressed. Each song was greeted with those passionate "READERRRRS" chants from the fans in the crowd.
Playing an album in full can sometimes feel like a stale exercise, but The Slow Readers Club made it feel like a celebration. The crowd's enthusiasm never wavered, a testament to how deeply "Cavalcade" has embedded itself as a superb album over the last nine years in fans' eyes.
Of course, the night wasn't over yet. The band returned for a ten-song "encore," which felt more like an interlude. The first song for their second act was "Technofear," the opening hit from their latest album, "Out Of A Dream." Quickly moving into "All I Hear" and "The Wait," both songs from their album "The Joy Of The Return."
Another highlight for me was during "the second act," with "On The TV," which is a sharp critique of media manipulation and political spin, taking aim at how television and news outlets shape public opinion through selective storytelling and propaganda. It is also one of my personal favourites of theirs.
Friday's show reinforced why The Slow Readers Club have built such a devoted following. Their ability to translate their recorded work to their live shows is exceptional, and the decision to play "Cavalcade" in full was a pleasant surprise. For those lucky enough to be at the O2 Institute, it was a night that won't be forgotten in a hurry.
