I think it’s fair to say that most bands who hail from the North have ventured to gigs in the Leadmill - so it’s fair to consider it a renowned stage that feels like a milestone to actually get to play.
Howl’s favourite cover band, Arctic Numpties, are no exception. Taking to the stage as a precursor to the famed Sonic Saturday, they brought the anthems of Sheffield back to their hometown after travelling the UK on tour.
A proper headline gig must begin with support, and they didn’t disappoint. Beginning the night with a bang were Blood Violet (previously performing under the name New Divide) who have a brilliantly spooky sound. Their single ‘Delora’ is a track all about being haunted by the memory of someone – feeling a presence once they’ve left your life, which is arguably how they deliver a performance.
My favourite part of their set was the dedication to covering songs. I feel like supporting a cover band is made infinitely more fun when you too partake in the act. Similarly to how Numpties’ frontman Ben Curry embraces his similar vocal style to Alex Turner, Blood Violet’s singer Charlotte Isobel covered ‘Giant Peach’ by Wolf Alice almost identically - perfect for the setting of the Leadmill. And just when you think it can’t get better, their version of ‘Somebody Told Me’ by the Killers had the whole club jumping and clapping, throwing beer in their haste to get to the front of the crowd and dance.
The second support comes in the form of Pennine Suite. Filled with funky riffs and synth sections, they make for a joy to watch. Frontman Nick Aldous has a voice made for shoegaze, and he tells us a lovely full circle moment of coming to the Leadmill exactly nine years before to watch the Cribs, his favourite band. To hear pride and joy like this is truly the best part of writing these reviews.
They kick off with ‘She’s my Utopia’, a delightfully keys-heavy love song. They just bring so much passion and energy to the stage - you can tell they love what they do, and there’s no way to make a show anything other than a blast with that energy.
Their song ‘Scottish Snow’ was, to me, the highlight of their working together as a band - it revolves around a hefty drum pattern and keeps an upbeat tone throughout, with each member having a standout section.
Both of the supports demonstrate a skill here that is often quite hard to uphold: keeping a crowd (who are there for a very specific sound) interested. It’s incredible how full the Leadmill was for both of the supports before the Arctic Numpties, and it was lovely to see a room full of people enjoy some new music alongside their favourite Monkeys’ classics.
After a pint break, and listening to our main act do an acapella rendition of ‘Snap Out of It’ while fully suited in the green room, it’s time for them to take the stage. The Numpties, live from the Leadmill.
Their set is immediately throwing the room into a wild array of dancing and shouting - opening with ‘A Certain Romance’ is a stellar choice, not only for its being universally loved, but also for its total embodiment of early 2000s Sheffield. If you’re bringing the band back to their roots, you’ve got to replicate that.
Luckily, for this crowd, they perform five songs from Whatever People Say I Am… showing their love for the songs that were written and first played in this very city.
Their set is pretty similar to those over the course of the Monkeys’ just ended UK and Ireland tour - the big singles from The Car mixed in amongst fan favourites, making for a song for any Arctic Monkeys fan in the crowd: whether they only appreciate those first two albums or prefer their newer, sultrier sound, the Numpties know how to keep the crowd engaged.
Despite knowing their presence in the fanbase, I am pleasantly surprised to know there are fans in the crowd who have travelled alongside the band on this tour. It’s gigs like this that reinstate the need for cover bands; an accessible way to see the songs you love played live and local. Like Charlie wrote in the review on site for their Manchester show, cover bands are a mixed bag - and the Numpties get it bang on.
Take this as your sign to go to the next cover show near you! You never know, you could find a new way to hear your favourite band live for much less, and in smaller venues.
