Words: Seth Richardson, Images: Sarah Oglesby
Blackpool is remembered for its arcades, sickly sweet rock and occasionally ballroom dancing, not often live music. However, on Wednesday night on the 5th floor of the iconic Blackpool tower, I was lucky enough to catch Yard Act’s first gig of the year.
The journey through the entrance of the 200-year-old tower and into the venue offered a glimpse into the colourful history of the building. Art deco fixtures and vibrant patterned carpets were contrasted by a fully functioning arcade room. Entering the venue, a throng of hardcore fans clad in merch had already amassed before the stage, a sign of the devoted following that Yard Act have assembled in their short lifespan.
There would be no surprise if the highs of releasing their second album “Where’s My Utopia?” and a packed summer of festivals including Glastonbury in 2024 would leave the band feeling hungover. But that was definitely not the case, Yard Act exploded onto the stage with the same energy they have become known and loved for.
The evening was kicked off by “Dream Job”, its hypnotic bassline instantly turning the heads and shoulders of the crowd into its playthings swaying them from side to side. Following songs continued the high octane start to the set, “Fixer Upper” and “Land of the Blind” offered up some of the best that the band’s first album has to offer.
As the night went on the Leeds quartet’s eccentric mix of joyful tunes that force your feet to tap along and weighty lyrics sung in an unashamedly northern accent continued to flow out into the crowd. The band even treated the crowd to a first glance of a new song “Gonna Need a Little Music” which did not disappoint.
Not many bands can boast that they have covered the logistics of growing lettuces in potholes, the politics of war and the existential questions of life in the same evening. But Yard Act are able to do that with a poetic mastery and political awareness that perfectly reflects their post-punk influences.
In their most poignant moment of storytelling front man James Smith reminisced of childhood days spent in Blackpool. “Blackpool Illuminations” offered a mellow interlude as Smith recounted the story of his life to the backdrop of the seaside town. The show offered a fitting tribute to a place that has obviously meant so much to him.
This moment of reflection gave way to energy that had preceded it. With each song ever bigger and ever more enticing pockets of moshing began to up, by “The Overload” half the room had become a mass of jumping bodies mirroring the intensity of the band on the stage.
The band walked off to a crowd baying for more. Returning to the stage for an encore Smith offered words of hope for an uncertain world and introduced their anthem for humanity “100% endurance” a suitable end to a joy filled performance.
I descend from the 5th floor and from the high of an electric performance with a feeling of newfound warmth. In an evening of dancing and haphazard singing along I had experienced the best of “that human spirit” which live music seems so brilliant at bringing out.
