EMF live in Leeds
Written by Kahmel Farahani on February 25, 2023
EMF – Brudenell Social Club Leeds Thursday 19th January
Words & Pictures: Diamond Dave
Having released their first album in 27 years – GO GO SAPIENS last year to both critical and fan praise I was really interested of what this evening was going to bring me and I have to say I was very impressed. When I think of the band with their fusion of rock guitars over a dance beat, similar in a way to acts like Pop Will Eat Itself or Jesus Jones, they always seemed ahead of their time so in 2023 don’t really sound dated at all. There is no support act tonight but a DJ from Ireland who gets the crowd warmed up and a great job he does!
They start on the with a song that everybody will recognise, I Believe and it does not take long for this West Yorkshire crowd dancing and grooving like they were back in their teens (I would say most of the audience would be in their 50’s and extremely pleased to be able to get back to the babysitters early!) All the hits are here, Children, Lies and a track that lead singer James said needed “no introduction….so I’m not going to bloody give it one…..Unbelievable”. What really impressed me was the way in which these older songs fitted perfectly with tracks from the new album such as Sister Sandanista, Crimes Of Passion and Sparks And Flashes.
The chants of “Yorkshire! Yorkshire!” showed that the fans were enjoying this show so much and only grew louder when James revealed that Yorkshire is now his home and was indeed where the new album was recorded. Speaking of Yorkshire, one thing that the band have been doing on this tour is playing a track each night from bands who come from the city where they have been playing with tunes from Tom Jones, The Skids and Buzzcocks being chosen in Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester on the tour previously. For Leeds…it was the Kaiser Chiefs – I Predict A Riot was given an airing to a very appreciative crowd!
Yes, I have to say that I was heartily impressed by the 2023 vintage of EMF and look forward to getting my dancing shoes on one more when they play the festivals in the Summer!!
