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WITH a section of the modest crowd singing along to what felt like every word of Philadelphia’s Mewithoutyou, it seemed the noughties trend for emo bands – particularly those spelling names without spaces – was alive and kicking.
It is harsh to define them with the maligned emo tag: Aaron Weiss’s band have often marked themselves apart by refusing to stick to the template. This show was no different, with the post-hardcore screams and careering about the stage present in Watermelon Ascot from latest album Pale Horses and the older, immense February 1878.
Though the intensity of Weiss’s stage presence worked well with the rockier numbers, it was perhaps on the more idiosyncratic, folk-influenced songs (The Fox, The Crow And The Cookie most notably) where the set came into its own, whispering over acoustic guitars for an unbeatably intimate feel.
A few mis-steps on the way (Aubergine faintly embarrassing) didn’t prove fatal as the show reached its logical conclusion with a brilliant encore of Every Thought A Thought Of You, unashamedly blunt with its Bright Eyes longing sweetness.
Brighton-based post-rock six-piece Yndi Halda supporting were more straightforward but still enchanting, with strings and glockenspiel elevating at-times over-meandering guitars.
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