Photo Credit: Alex Norcross
Following the release of his sixth studio album ‘Sunlight in the Shadows‘, Wirral rockstar Miles Kane made his return to the steel city, just six months after he became the last performer at the iconic Leadmill ahead of its closure. Known for his electric performances no matter where he goes, Miles brought tracks from his new record plus a host of fan favourites to Sheffield across two nights at Crookes Social Club.
Opening the night were London based grunge-inspired, the visceral Villanelle made their swift return to the steel city after their previously sold out show saw them pack out the intimate Sidney & Matilda back in November. Kicking off with ‘Hinge‘, the already packed venue welcomed the youngsters with open arms. The much heavier sound compared to the headliner grabbed peoples attention immediately. Gene Gallagher delivers raw vocals alongside the band collectively unleashing a series of strong riffs and heavy cymbal crashes, this captivated the Sheffield crowd throughout the entire thirty minutes. the bands’ latest single ‘Measly Means‘ is arguably their strongest contender alongside the gut punching ‘Placebo‘.
Making his way on to the stage to John Lennon’s rendition of ‘Stand By Me‘, Miles Kane and his band took up their positions for a second Sheffield serving. Launching into his set with the typical swagger the Mersey man carries around day-to-day, ‘Electric Flower‘ opened the show. Quickly following up with fan favourite ‘Rearrange‘, this is where the Sheffield crowd came alive. Keeping the momentum going with ‘Troubled Son‘, a song that put Miles back in the eyes of those who fell in love with his debut, remains a staple in his performances. ‘The Wonder‘ allowed the capacity crowd to settle down for a moment, until the foot stomping ‘Cry On My Guitar‘ came back around to pick up the pace once again.
After more ‘Sunlight in the Shadows‘ material was thrown into the mix, Kane‘s almighty riff-tastic hit ‘Inhaler‘ saw the room light up to a whole new level. The chorus was taken over by the audience, showing exactly how adored this particular single is still to this day. ‘Colour of the Trap‘ brought it down a level once again, with ‘Better Than That‘ and ‘Coup de Grace‘ ensured to not let the vibe die down. The crowd became more involved once again, this time for the pleasing ‘Don’t Forget Who You Are‘, to set up the final two songs of the night. After ‘Sunlight in the Shadows‘ concluded songs from the latest record, it was ‘Come Closer‘ that served as the finale (as it tends to do). Ensuring Miles felt at home in what is dubbed his second place of residence, all the remaining energy that everyone had was unleashed in the final three minutes.
Churning out twenty one songs on a Tuesday night isn’t an easy stretch, and especially two nights in the same city can feel quite daunting. But not for Miles Kane, this was just a walk in the park.
Taped Magazine 