Photo Credit: Emma Thompson @emmathompsonphotography
Back in 2023, Birkenhead native MILES KANE secured his highest charting record with his fifth release ‘One Man Band’, a record which saw the Merseyside man returned to his roots and deliver an electrifying piece of work, giving fans old and new a taste of what he is has in the bag. Throughout last year, MILES played a series of headline shows in two formats, full band and solo, with both drawing sell outs crowds across the country, and to kick start his 2024, and he decided to take his ‘One Man Band’ release with the full band experience, with the first night of tour in Leeds.
Wrexham’s emerging stars THE ROYSTON CLUB have been on a journey of their own throughout 2023. The band completed a sold out tour in the autumn supporting their debut release ‘Shaking Hips and Chasing Cars’ after a series of festival appearances, and have amassed a huge following in a short amount of time. This was clearly evident during their opening slot in Leeds, playing fan favourites ‘52’ and ‘Mrs Narcissistic’ and swiftly gained new fans during their 30 minute slot. Tom Faithfull set aside his guitar for ‘I’m A Liar’ as he punched the air throughout this future indie anthem, with the front of the crowd bouncing around throughout. After concluding their emphatic performance, the band stepped off the stage to a room of roar of applause and cheers after their powerful performance.
The anticipation built up as soon as the clock struck 9pm, and with the lights slowly dimming down, the room erupted. On came MILES KANE with his band, kicking off the night with the title track of his latest record ‘One Man Band’ and 2013’s ‘Better Than That’ quickly followed. It was a pleasant surprise for many when ‘Silverscreen’ made it on to the set list for the first time since 2019, as well as ‘Telepathy’ which appeared later in the set.
‘Inhaler’, MILES‘s debut hit, never fails to electrify the audience. This gem’s considerably harder rock sound demonstrates not only how far MILES has come over the years, but also what he is musically capable of. Judging by the looks on the other side of the room, the poignant ‘Baggio’ was also a big hit from the ‘One Man Band’ record. Prior to the release of his most recent album, MILES had expressed a desire to return to his origins. He showed no fear in doing so by incorporating hits from his past, such as “Colour of the Trap” and the festival staple ‘Come Closer’ into the set list.
As the night was coming to a close, ‘Don’t Forget Who You Are’ rounded off the set perfectly. A sea of hands engulfed the room, along with every single person singing along to yet another fan favourite. MILES KANE then returned to the stage for one more hit, playing ‘Troubled Son’ which introduced fans into what was to come with the new album, that has now became a staple in his catalogue.
Taped Magazine 