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Kid Symphony - Leeds Cockpit Live Review

Kid Symphony

Leeds Cockpit

Fresh from returning from the Texan south X southwest industry showcase, Kid Symphony played the Cockpit in a homecoming gig to end their 6 date mini tour in tour.

First up were support act Colour of Fire. Though for much of the set the York four-piece displayed no more talent than you’d expect from a few school mates who’ve begged/borrowed/stolen some instruments and are thrashing away in their garage, new single ?????, which is to

Kid Symphony - Leeds Cockpit Live Review

be released on download only, was in a different league. Within the first couple of bars you could for the first time see more than a glimmer of talent behind the band and it was a definite set highlight amongst an otherwise uninspiring jaunt.

The gig was played out in the smaller of the two cockpit rooms and was consequently full to bursting. This, coupled with a crowd full of friends and family, meant that even before the band set foot on stage the atmosphere was such that Kid Symphony would have their work cut out to send anyone away disgruntled.

Bounding on stage, suitably glammed up guitarist, Pete Denton, sported a gold sequinned tie that only the undeniably gorgeous can pull off and, not to be outdone, front-man Chris Langdon had opted for a gravity defying coif.

If the outfits and stage-presence gave the impression Kid Symphony hail from more exotic locations than West Yorkshire then their banter did not:

“Eh-up… It’s good to be back. This one’s for my Mum”

Latest single ‘Meet You on the Other Side’ (released 22/3 through Island) was a definite crowd pleaser along with “a cheeky little number that’ll move your hips”, ‘Never Been a Rock star’.

Langdon displayed all the charisma and presence that you’d hope for from a frontman of a band inspired by Bowie and Queen and both he and Denton threw out impressive riffs with gay abandon.

As the relatively short, nine song, encore-less set came to an end the local boys finished off in style:

“You’ve been beautiful tonight Leeds, thanks for coming down. Now get your motherfucking lighters out for ‘Lost in Space’.

Anyone leaving the venue with the turning on of the house lights missed, arguably, the high point of the entire evening. The poster advertised gig + aftershow and Kid Symphony didn’t let us down.

Following a brief shower and change Langdon hit the Cockpit Bar where he proceeded to play a mammoth 2-hour DJ set. Belting out hits from amongst others, Iggy Pop, Blondie, Queen and Duran Duran, Langdon’s transition from on-stage roc god to cheesy DJ was seamless and excellent entertainment and only a fool would have missed the impromptu set.

But all good things must come to an end and what better way to go than via the immortal warblings of the Carpenters???

“right, well I hope you’ve had a good night…but I’m afraid I’m going to have to tell you to piss off. Thank you for coming to see Kid Symphony. This is a song for all the lovers out there…”

Kid Symphony may well be the best thing to come out of Leeds since Lurpack and hopefully their talent will be appreciated further afield.

(Almost!) complete DJ setlist:

Elton John; Saturday Night’s Alright

AHA; Take on Me

Blondie: Hanging on the Telephone

Jackson 5: I Want You Back

Aerosmith: Dude (Looks Like a Lady)

Bon Jovi: You give Love a Bad Name

Guns & Roses: Paradise City

Queen: Fat-bottomed Girls

AC:DC: Highway to Hell

Iggy Pop: The Passenger

Tears for Fears: Everybody Wants To Rule the World

Duran Duran: Girls on Film

Eddi Grant: Electric Avenue

Sting: SOS

The Shamen: Ebeneezer Good

The Prodigy: Out of Space

2 Unlimited: No limits

Bon Jovi: Living on a Prayer

Queen: Don’t Stop Me Know

Survivor: Eye of the Tiger

Violent Delight: Teenage Kicks

Alice Cooper: School’s Out for Summer

The Carpenters: Close to You

www.kidsymphony.com

Words: Jude Stone

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