The loveable Maccabees

I first saw The Maccabees live at the Camden Crawl in April 2009. Amongst the start of summer festival fever that was The Crawl, their headlining status was almost lost on me. I was already quite mesmerised by The Virgins who proceeded them at The Roundhouse and my eye had been caught by the many females that were fronting my playlists.

I mean, I had seen the Yeah Yeah Yeahs the night before - who was gonna beat that?

Well, in April The Maccabees didn't beat Karen O and her crew on performance but they had wooed me with their indie boy charm. These Brighton based South London boys are really made for me. After living in The Bright-Town for a few years I seem to gravitate towards all things hippiesque, hedonistic and experimental.

Fast forward to 3rd October Brixton Academy and I am once again in front of the self proclaimed non-religious Maccabees. Their second album 'Wall of Arms' has been available since May and the crowd is pack full of 'cool kids'.

Their infectious, yet well thought about lyrics are the perfect anecdote to those early twenties blues that so many of the crowd are clearly experiencing. Bouncing around the stage, Orlando Weekes is quite clearly what Ian Curtis could have been if the depression had lifted.

Joined on stage with three saxophonists, the set is clean, simple and unadulterated. 'No kind words' causes every arm in the crowd to raise, whilst 'Toothpaste kisses' makes every single soul in the audience wish for that particular morning glory. With the involvement of mandolins and accordions the show is understated and quietly technical.

Whilst you get the impression that the indie boy blues have affected their open-heart diagnosis of love, the band that were on stage at Brixton charmed the crowd with their obvious elation to be there. As the predictable and anticipated 'Love you better' encore ensued, Weekes told the crowd 'I think you've just given us the gig of our lives.' and their reluctance to leave the stage seemed to affirm this. It is such a joy to see a band grateful for the adoration that receive.