LIVE REVIEW: LOS CAMPESINOS!

Los Campesinos!
Manchester, Club Academy
Monday, February 18 2008

Always-sprightly Cardiff seven piece Los Campesinos! seem even more excitable than usual this evening. Tonight’s crowd is apparently the largest they’ve played to in a while, and both the audience and the band are clearly determined to throw their all in behind their jangly, melodic, boy-girl indie tunes and have a hell of a good boogie. With their debut album ‘Hold On Now, Youngster’ out next week, and having now accumulated a solid bank of touring experience, the band appear to have harnessed all their playfulness into a far more fully formed sound. A bizarre, spontaneous rendition of the ASDA advert theme tune aside, every song they play tonight glimmers with energy, catchiness and just general loveliness. At the end of the gig, the joyful ‘You! Me! Dancing’ explodes into a bout of stunningly ambitious crowd surfing for several brave fans and everyone leaves the venue with a big smile on their face, thoroughly chuffed.
Molly Jones

www.loscampesinos.com.
www.myspace.com/loscampesinos.
http://www.wichita-recordings.com/artist.php/loscampesinos/.