Music > Live Reviews

Turin Brakes @ Open

24/02/16

At a near sold out Open, it is absolutely fantastic to have the wonderful Turin Brakes back promoting their new album Lost Property. It comes laced with all of the trademark characteristics of a Brakes album, with some very fine songwriting, great musicianship and delicately poised harmonies. It’s now nine studio albums in since the 2001 release of their debut albumThe Optimist, and original duo Olly Knights and Gale Paridjanian are still going strong as the mainstays of the band.

Gale Paridjanian’s intricate guitar playing is something to behold. Every time that I see them perform live I am mesmerised, as quite honestly I have never seen anyone play a guitar in such a way. He balances beauty and perfection with the grace of a guitar god as he churns out some most amazing effects and riffs. It is a totally captivating experience and quite breathtaking to watch and listen too. Oh, how I love having these indie rock masters back in Norwich!

There is plenty of back catalogue material to keep the crowd entertained throughout the ninety minute set with Emergency 72, Mind Over Money, Fishing For A Dream,  Painkiller, Last Chance and my personal favourite Future Boy all getting a fresh airing. The new album gets a good airing this evening as you would hope and expect, with Keep Me Around being the standout track.

I have always felt that this band is severely underrated, but it was good to see that those in the know haven’t deserted them this evening; many have even brought their young offspring along with them too. Quite frankly I always think that it requires a bit more of an effort to get out to a gig on a Sunday evening, but this is one that I was never going to skip. It was certainly an evening not to be missed that’s for sure and judging by the positive reception throughout the set and as they left the stage I wasn’t alone in thinking that. It would appear based on this evening’s performance that they are still getting a buzz from recording and playing live and long may it continue.

They play the Cambridge Junction on the 7th of March; catch them if you can.

8/10