Tag: O2 Academy Leeds

420. Gary Numan: O2 Academy, Leeds [12.5.22]

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Artist: Gary Numan

Support: Divine Shade

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 12.5.22

The Numan renaissance continued with the Intruder tour. Songs from the newly released album and its predecessor (Savage) strongly held their own against a back catalogue of pioneering synth sounds and electronic anthems.

Setlist: Intruder / Me! I Disconnect From You / Halo / The Gift / Metal / Here in the Black / Is This World Not Enough / Films / Pure / Resurrection / Down in the Park / Everyday I Die / Dead Sun Rising / Cars / My Name Is Ruin / Love Hurt / Bleed / The Chosen / I Die: You Die // A Prayer for the Unborn / Are ‘Friends’ Electric?

396. Public Service Broadcasting: O2 Academy, Leeds [1.11.21]

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Artist: Public Service Boradcasting

Support: EERA

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 1.11.21

Sophisticated sampling and so much more from the PSB sound bite boffins on their Bight Magic tour, accompanied by EERA.

Setlist: Der Sumpf (Sinfonie der Großstadt) / Im Licht / Der Rhythmus Der Maschinen / Progress / People Will Always Need Coal / Sputnik / Korolev / Gib Mir Das Licht / Blue Heaven / Spitfire / All Out / Lichtspiel I: Opus / Lichtspiel II: Schwarz Weiss Grau / Lichtspiel III: Symphonie Diagonale / The Other Side / Go! // They Gave Me a Lamp / People, Let’s Dance / Gagarin / Everest

392. Fontaines D.C: O2 Academy, Leeds [23.10.21]

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Artist: Fontaines D.C.

Support: The Altered Hours

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 23.10.21

I was lucky enought to have first seen Fontaines D.C. live at Brudenell Social Club a couple of months prior to this gig. As a result the soulless, corporate surroundings of the O2 Academy, Leeds simply didn’t compare. The band were on form but the view from the seats in the overfilled balcony was appalling, making it a somewhat unmemorable event. Shame.

Setlist: A Hero’s Death / A Ludid Dream / Sha Sha Sha / Chequeless Reckless / I Don’t Belong / The Lotts / Living in America / Hurricane Laughter / Too Real / Big / Televised Mind / Boys in the Better Land // Roy’s Tune / Liberty Bell

351. Pixies: O2 Academy, Leeds [17.9.19]

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351a_Pixies [170919]

Artist: Pixies

Support: The Big Moon

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 17.9.19

No holding back as Pixies opened with ‘Gouge Away’ and ploughed-on through an epic 38 song set. Some would argue that less is more, but when you’ve waited so long to see a band play live, you take what you can get. Disappointingly, their expansive setlist didn’t include ‘Debaser’.

There’s no ticket for this gig, as in their infinite wisdom O2 Academy venues decided that e-tickets are easier to manage and more cost effective. Such a decision shows how corporate venues are all about maximum profit and don’t understand the intricacies and mementos that accompany and enhance gig culture.

Setlist: Gouge Away / On Graveyard Hill / Classic Masher / Head On / Rock Music / Isla de Encanta / Crackity Jones / Bone Machine / Velouria / Snakes / This is My Fate / Catfish Kate / Cactus / Blown Away / Where is My Mind / Nimrod’s Son / Bird of Prey / Havalina / Death Horizon / Here Comes Your Man / Ready for Love / Brick is Red / Mr. Grieves / Silver Bullet / Vamos / In the Arms of Mrs. Mark of Cain / Caribou / Hey / Los Surfers Muertos / No. 13 Baby / Dead / I’ve Been Tired / Long Rider / Monkey Gone to Heaven / St. Nazaire / Wave of Mutilation / Tame // Daniel Boone

351c_Pixies | Tour [2019]

338. Foals: O2 Academy, Leeds [23.5.19]

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338b_Foals [230519]Artist: Foals

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 23.5.19

For the previous decade, Foals had eluded me as a live act. Chances to see them play live seemed few and far between. However, the release of ‘Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 1’ brought them to O2 Academy, Leeds for an exclusive album launch show.

An incredible gig with the band playing the newly released album in full, along with a few old favourites and a preview of things to come. Bring on Part 2 . . .

Setlist: Moonlight / Exits / White Onions / In Degrees / Syrups / On the Luna / Cafe D’Athens / Surf, Pt.1 / Sunday / I’m Done with the World (& It’s Done with Me) // Mountain at My Gates / My Number / Black Bull / Inhaler

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338e_Foals [230519]

 

321. Ocean Colour Scene: O2 Academy, Leeds [5.12.18]

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321a_Ocean Colour Scene [051218]Artist: Ocean Colour Scene

Support: Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 5.12.18

It’s somewhat ignorant and rude when the majority of the audience talk throughout the support band; incredulous when the support act is Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. Living Motown legends are few and far between. Shut the f*ck up and watch the band!

Thankfully, Ocean Colour Scene ramped-up the volume to deliver a hefty set of their best known tracks.

321b_Ocean Colour Scene [051218]

Setlist: Everything Comes at the Right Time / The Riverboat Song / Profit in Peace / Better Day / Weekend / One for the Road / Get Blown Away / The Circle / Step by Step / Besides Yourself / I Wanna Stay Alive with You / This Day Should Last Forever / Be with You / Up on the Downside / Saturday / Jane She Got Excavated / July / You’ve Got It Bad / Travellers Tune // Robin Hood – Live Together / Another Bard May Chant / Hundred Mile High City / It’s a Beautiful Thing / The Day We Caught the Train

321c_Ocean Colour Scene [051218]

318. Mogwai: O2 Academy, Leeds [24.11.18]

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318a_Mogwai [241118]Artist: Mogwai

Support: The Twilight Sad

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 24.11.18

318b_Mogwai [241118]

There’s not really much to see at a Mogwai gig – but the sonic onslaught is like no other live music experience; truly awesome. *Don’t ever feed them after midnight.

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318d_Mogwai [241118]

Setlist: Yes! I Am a Long Way from Home / Friend of the Night / We’re Not Done (End Title) / Party in the Dark / Old Poisons / Crossing the Road Material / Rano Pano / Don’t Believe the Fife / Auto Rock / Remurdered / Every Country’s Sun / Like Herod // New Paths to Helicon, Pt. 1 / We’re No Here

316. Dr. John Cooper Clarke: O2 Academy, Leeds [17.11.18]

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316a_John Cooper Clarke [171118]Artist: Dr. John Cooper Clarke

Support: Geoffrey Allerton (Simon Day) / Mike Garry / Toria Garbutt

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 17.11.18

The legendary people’s poet and fellow wordsmiths performing spoken word for the masses. Mirthful to see many youngsters at such a performance, with their parents cringing at the barrage of F-bombs launched from the stage (as if the kids don’t already know those words).

316b_John Cooper Clarke [171118]

300. St. Vincent: O2 Academy, Leeds [28.8.18]

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300a_St. Vincent [280818]Artist: St. Vincent

Support: Girl Gang Leeds [DJ Set]

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 28.8.18

Another landmark gig (no. 300) – and what a gig it was; instantly claiming a place in my all time top 10.

The entire audience seemed to be in love with the awesome power and presence of Annie Clark (AKA St. Vincent). The very definition of ‘Masseduction’.

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300f_St. Vincent [280818]

249. Peter Hook & The Light: O2 Academy, Leeds [18.3.17]

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249a_Peter Hook [180317]Artist: Peter Hook & The Light

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 18.3.17

Substance [Live]: Continuing his quest to eventually play every Joy Division and New Order song live, ‘Hooky’ (& co.) played an epic gig featuring the ‘Substance’ (best of) albums of his former bands.

The fact that the band played the Joy Division set after the New Order tracks implies that Hook’s true loyalty lies with his earlier work – but what a choice to have. A substantial back catalogue indeed.

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Joy Division_New Order [Substance]

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238. Centre Stage 2016 – The Final: O2 Academy, Leeds [27.7.16]

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238a_Centre Stage [270716]Artists: The Mallrats / Tree / The Elephant Trees / Faux Pas / Lewis Crossley / The Indigo Project / Big Bad Rabbit / Shaarks / Liberate / Territory / Blyss

Venue: O2 Academy, Leeds

Date: 27.7.16

Centre Stage is an annual ‘battle of the bands’, curated by Martin House Children’s Hospice. The competition showcases fresh young talent, many of whom go on to greater success in the music industry. The winning band receive the prestigious prize of playing live at that year’s Reading and Leeds Festivals.

The 2016 final kicked-off with a set by the previous year’s winners; The Mallrats.

The winning band of Centre Stage 2016 was Faux Pas.

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238c_Centre Stage [270716]