It’s always nice when a band play a venue a lot smaller to those they’ve grown accustomed too, which was exactly what happened this afternoon when Southampton foursome Delays graced the miniscule stage of Camden’s Lock Tavern for Clash magazine.
Spending the best part of an hour wowing the assembled fans, media and curious regulars they ripped through a selection of B-sides, covers and old favourites. Everything was stripped back to the core, and whilst the electric bass and guitars were kept, Aaron’s synths were kept well away, leaving him to look a bit lost with a tambourine.
Thrown in halfway through the set was a brilliant cover of James’ “Laid”, however as lead-singer Greg commented “hopefully you all know it well enough to cover up the bits we don’t know”. Quickly followed by some birthday wishes for some lucky fans, “...and the lucky bingo numbers!” joked Greg, clearly enjoying doing a more stripped down, laid back set.
A quick jog down memory lane with “Nearer than Heaven” and time is rapidly running out, so Panic Attacks from their recent “Love Made Visible” EP is given a complete makeover, becoming a sensational crowd sing-along, raising the roof of the tiny pub, even getting a few of the smokers outside on the patio looking in. Closing out was a cover of Neil Diamond’s “Cherry Cherry”, which they recently played on Dermot O’Leary’s Radio 2 show.
All too soon their set was over, leaving the Long Blondes to DJ out the night at the Lock Tavern. However, for those of us lucky enough to be there will testify: if they can bring down the Lock Tavern in such style we’d hate to think what they can do to Koko in May.
Delays play Koko on Friday 16th May. Tickets are on sale now priced at £14 each. New album "Everything's the Rush" is out on May 5th, and they'll be featured on Eddy Temple Morris' XFM show this coming Friday, 4th April.
