Fresh from touring with The Courteeners, Miles Kane’s confidence is undeniable. Bounding up onto the stage, time doesn’t appear to have worn him at all and his enthusiasm exudes out of him in the form of a fist bump, a bit 1980′s but so is his polo neck and we let him off for that.
We caught a glimpse of him at Brudenell Social Club in Leeds where he was supported by up and coming locals, Soul Circus .
The venue might have been packed with Last Shadow Puppet fans but Kane proves to us all that he’s more than just a one trick pony with his upcoming single ‘Come Closer’ immediately infectious and powering through previous stereotypes. Kane’s grimey hues in the live setting surprisingly make up for the severe lack of Daisy Lowe writhing around in his video which of course is no mean feat.
Other songs such as previous single ‘Inhaler’ were met with a roar from the more hardcore fans, those that seemingly haven’t changed since Kane’s days in The Rascals. Proof that although it would be naieve to assume that he sounds entirely original, this is nostalgia of the best kind, with Miles reminding us of when rock had some standing in indie music.
Without a banjo in sight his music is refreshing and so is his attitude. His pure excitement at being in such an intimate venue had stragglers listening in at the doors and ensured that those inside felt lucky to be there. With such a talented band though it might have been more fair to recognise their contribution into the overall sound. Miles might be pulling the punters in but it is certainly with the help of the band that he’s keeping them there.
I’m not so sure about the John Lennon comparisons he’s been getting from indie zines (don’t push your luck Kane) but if you’re willing to push your way through the sea of Henri Lloyd shoes and Noel Gallagher haircuts you might just discover something you hadn’t even realised you were missing- your teenage years.
Words by Sophie Stones. Photographs by Nicole Paciello for Freedom Spark.
