Official Secrets Act - Roadhouse, Manchester, 26/3/2009
by Dixie Ernill
published: 19 / 3 / 2009
intro
Out on the road to promote their debut album 'Understanding Electricity', Dixie Ernill watches excitable band-on-the-rise Official Secrets Act play a stunning set of indie pop at the Manchester Roadhouse
A band called the Kingsway offer support and despite only playing 5 songs they make a big impression. A blend of the best bits of Manchester music from the last two decades, an Oasis it’s okay to like… From the moment Official Secrets Act, however, ease into opening gambit ‘Bloodsport’, the Kingsway become a mere footnote on an extraordinary evening of musical delight. It is not just the quality of the material that Official Secrets Act showcase, but the real sense of fun that they exude throughout the performance. Bassist Lawrence Diamond (surely a made up name?) not only bobs around like an excited youth high on his first bottle of cheap cider down the park with his mates, but is also dressed up like a homage to Austin Powers with an electric blue make-up mask across his eyes. Multi-instrumentalist Michael Evans never seems shy of a river wide smile, but with the looks that could stun super models at 50 paces, I guess I’d be smiling too, while vocalist and guitarist Tom Burke sings every word like it’s his second nature and looks every inch the part in his dandy jacket. Alex MacKenzie on drums is naturally hidden at the back, but he doesn’t seem unhappy to be there. Culling songs solely from their forthcoming debut album,' Understanding Electricity', with the exception of ace first single, ‘Snakes And Ladders’ it is a show without weakness. ‘Mainstream’, like so much of the set, is urged along by Evans' electronic noodlings, lifting the band high above the current indie fayre that is doing the circuit at the moment. Single ‘So Tomorrow’ is another fine example of a healthy mixture of influences ranging from 80’s synth groups such as OMD and Ultravox, to the Divine Comedy and Hamfatter, with a dash of Patrick Wolf. ‘Hold The Line’ and ‘December’ are equally solid numbers not out of place with old single ‘Victoria’ or the rousing current 7” ‘The Girl From The BBC’, before the night is brought to a close by the beautiful ‘Little Birds’. Steve Lamacq has already picked up on the fine lyrical output of the band and I would not disagree, but the music is something rather special too.
Picture Gallery:-
interviews |
Interview (2009) |
Lawrence Diamond from rising pop/rock band Official Secrets Act speaks to Dixie Ernill about his band and their recently released debut album, 'Understanding Electricity' |
reviews |
Understanding Electricity (2009) |
Exceptional debut album from much hyped London-based pop band Official Secrets Act, who prove with it to be far more than a great singles band |
The Girl from the BBC (2009) |
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
previous editions
Microdisney - The Clock Comes Down the StairsWorld Party - Interview
Michael Lindsay Hogg - Interview
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EP
Ain't That Always The Way - Alan Horne After The Sound of Young Scotland 2
World Party - Interview with Karl Wallinger
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Steve Harley - Interview
Dwina Gibb - Interview
Prisoners - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Marika Hackman - Big SighSerious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning Dew
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart