Peace Happy People tour

Photo taken by me

     It's pretty much been non-stop for the Birmingham quartet recently, with second album Happy People being released earlier this year and yet another UK tour over and done with, Peace's success has only grown. Their success first begun back in 2012 with their EP - Delicious; an exuberant record with memorable lyrics full of lust hidden beneath flares of catchy pop hooks building up to the rather intense 10 minute long '1998'. After the success of first album In Love, capturing the attention of an audience primarily consisting of indie teens, Happy People followed two years later; everything sounding a lot bigger and more dramatic, with the record consisting of scruffy love songs reeking of angst - disguised by upbeat energy, fuelled by sleazy indie tones powering on alongside memorable guitar riffs, each song sounding like it was made to be performed live.

Photo taken by me

        I managed to catch the four piece on the last date of their tour last night in Wolverhampton; they were playing at the Civic Hall, a pretty nice sized venue; along with the likes of other well deserved spots at places such the O2 Academy in Brixton and an admirable sold out show at the O2 Academy in Liverpool. The band had compiled a rather impressive set list, including hits from the likes of well known tracks such as Follow Baby, Bloodshake and Wraith - the songs that started the snowball-like effect with regards to their fans, to more recent tracks including Lost On Me, Money and Perfect Skin; producing a full on set lasting over an hour and a half.
      The band begun with O You; a track repetitively enforcing that lead singer Harrison Koisser is merely 'trying to change the world that we live in', another song with a rather deep meaning if you listen to the lyrics however disguised by the upbeat-ness. I feel like they could have chosen a better song to kick off the show as it was a little middle of the road; however this didn't appear to have an effect on the crowd, living up to the reputation of Peace's audiences normally being rather rowdy (and a little crazed?)

Photo credit to www.peaceforever.co.uk

    As the night progressed, the crowd only got more excitable, as if feeding off everyone else's energy, including the band's who were very much giving it their all.
    An array of spectacular stage lighting, backdrops and effects that projected around the room made the night feel just that little bit more special; becoming more apparent with slower tracks Someday, Saturday Girl and California Daze producing a sea of swaying arms and an orchestra of singalongs - adding to the unmissable atmosphere; similar to the unity of chants at a football ground.
    Peace ended their set with World Pleasure; entailing of favourable, laid back bass riffs accompanied by an uplifting chorus; the band giving the song their last few burst of energy and playing as if angry at their instruments - evidentially trying to savour the last few moments of their tour.
     Overall it was a truly enjoyable night and I would definitely go to see Peace again as they're an excellent live band with contagiously wild crowds; personal highlights of the night being the performance of classic Follow Baby, 1998 and World Pleasure.

Written by Rosie Mulhern.