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Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
@Maxximum23Clark
6:17 PM 17th February 2019
arts

The Struts Finally Return To Leeds

 
If you took a look at the British singles chart you might be misled to think that UK rock bands are not in fashion at the moment. This could not be further from the truth - the Struts may struggle to get mainstream radio airplay in their own country but tonight's gig - the first date on their UK tour is sold out like most of the dates on the tour.

The British band decamped to America where they have toured relentlessly. Had they stayed in England they would probably have ended up being just a support act to the famous. Thankfully the band are on the up in America, Europe and Japan.

Luke Spiller
Luke Spiller
It's been way too long since the band graced a Yorkshire stage, lead singer Luke Spiller is more than aware of that as he thanks the Leeds fans for waiting. The consummate showman and lead singer, Spiller never misses a trick to get the audience involved, "if you are not here to have a good time I suggest you leave right now" he suggests as he and the band arrive on stage.

The majority of the set is taken from their second album. Primadonna Like Me gets things off to a rousing start before Body Talks shows that the band can boogie as well as rock.

The Bruce Springsteen track, Dancing In The Dark seemed to be used as only an opportunity to get a female fan up on stage to sing the song with them, whereas they have plenty of other tracks of their own which might have been better used.

This time around Spiller has a piano on stage. When he sits down it's hard not to think of Freddie Mercury - the comparisons have been there in the past and are hard not to remove.
The fans age range from those who were there back in the 70's and 80's when rock was flourishing to those who were not even born in the 90's.

In essence the show was a perfect lesson in pure entertainment, the band and Spiller give it their all, by the third number he is already dripping in sweat.

From forever putting hands into the air to getting the fans to crouch down on the floor and then jumping up, the audience were involved as much as possible.

The lengthy touring has primed them into a tight unit. Surely it will be the bigger venues that the group will play next time they play Yorkshire.

By the time we get to Where Did She Go and at least 2 costume changes from Spiller the gig made you wonder why British Radio stations programmers are not hearing what they should be.

Could Have Been Me closes a blistering set. After over 90 minutes on stage the magic and energy never stopped. Pure class.