Reverend And The Makers

Whilst the unimaginative may discount them as poor Arctic Monkeys wannabes, those who take the time to actually listen to Reverend and the Makers will realise that this is a band with more depth than is first apparent. Dealing with love, embitterment, apathy and addiction in all its forms, the fayre served up by Jon McClure and company offers so much more than their Sheffield contemporaries, and it is no surprise that one Alex Turner cites McLure as a major influence, and not, as is commonly believed, the other way round.

The first sign that this gig is going to be a bit different is when McLure berates the crowd for their chant of "Yorkshire, Yorkshire" because "we're all in this together, where you come from doesn't matter". This ability to rise above trivial matters permeates the music, and gives it a gravitas which is rarely seen in music so accessible.

Highlights of a set which will surely become the focus of many "I was there when.." stories include the fantastic first single, 'Heavyweight Champion of the World', and the title track from the forthcoming album, 'The State of Things', which is simply scathing in its attack of the cultural void which many currently inhabit. 'He Said He Loved Me', despite its current radio overkill, goes down a storm, and wry smiles cross the faces of the longtime fans, as it is easily their weakest song.



The band are not afraid to do things a little differently, as is proven by the inclusion of a few spoken word pieces in the set, with the best of the lot being 'The Last Resort', sadly without John Cooper Clarke, who guests on the recorded version. Few other bands would get away with this, but Reverend and the Makers transcend the normal bounds of acceptability, and not only get away with it, but make it an integral part of the show.

Few bands this weekend will gain as many new fans as Reverend and the Makers will have done this weekend. Their time appears to be right, and their message certainly appears to be getting through. If they continue to produce shows like this, then they will become massive, there is no doubt about it. Certainly a highlight of the weekend, and a set which may just become legendary.

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