Photo: Press
You can feel it in the air: tonight is special. It's the culmination of years of hard graft, but it leads the band to the real beginning of their journey. For tonight, Lacey play their crowdfunded debut album, Under The Brightest Lights in full to everyone who made it possible.
Still unsigned, the band needed more than just financial backing to get them into the studio; they sought validation. And they got it.
"How the fuck you doing Nottingham?" bellows frontman Graz Turner as Lacey take to the stage before launching straight into lead single - and album opener - 'Tonight'. It's a fitting start that fits the tone perfectly.
Many of the 10 tracks wouldn't be out of place blaring out at a summer festival; 'Change The Story' has a chorus tailor-made for a sunset at Reading while ‘Reach out’ has the Rescue Rooms rocking. It's not all rip-roaring guitar riffs though: ballad 'Contender' has everyone's smartphones in the air. The moments peppered throughout the set – and the album's running order - are the best advert for the good old fashioned LP in the a la carte digital download era.
Album closer 'Older' doesn't bring a curtain down on the night though as the crowd is treated to an encore of 'Burning Out' and seminal track 'Hometown', from the band's 2013 EP 'Outlaws', ensuring everyone leaves with tender vocal chords.
As the crowd filters out of the Rescue Rooms - crowdfunders and new music fans alike - this reviewer hopes a label rep or two was among them.
