South Coast Entertainment Maximo Park Review

Maximo Park bounded into our ears in 2005 with the magnificent debut album 'A Certain Trigger'. Through radio play of 'Graffiti' and 'Apply Some Pressure' from the album, the band were catapulted into stardom within the growing indie scene in the UK. Performances from then on at festivals both here and abroad were common place as everyone flocked to see the next big thing. It wasent done through consistently high radio chart singles or album sales, but through the love of the music by the public. The infusion of poetic genius and catchy riffs struck a chord and pushed Maximo Park onto second album 'Our Earthly Pleasures' at break neck speed. As success seemed to follow the band around, it was no surprise that the recent release of 3rd album 'Quicken The Heart' has been met with top 10 sales.

The sold out crowd at the Southampton Guildhall greeted the band to the mass hysterics they are sure to be used to now. Opening on fan favourite 'Graffiti' was a masterstroke as it suddenly, without warning, bounded everyone into the sense of freedom these songs take you to. Lead singer Paul Smith's now legendary dancing was gathering pace at a rate of knots even at this early stage. The crowd connects with someone who is having this much fun in their day job and the smiles that light up the Guildhall must have been blinding to the band.

Of course this is a tour for the new album so the band pull in songs from 'Quicken The Heart'. The current single 'The Kids Are Sick Again' gets an outing and sounds brilliant live with it's punchy chorus and memorable lyrics. Other songs from the new album on show included 'Wraithlike', 'Let's Get Clinical' and stand out song from the album 'Calm'. Of course, much of the crowd will have been hooked on Maximo Park from the first two albums and therefore the inclusion of popular songs from both was always going to have the audience at their energetic best. Songs including 'Going Missing', 'Postcard of a Painting' and 'I Want You To Stay' from debut album 'A Certain Trigger' impressed along with 'Our Velocity', 'The Unshockable' and the touching 'Parisian Skies' from 'Our Earthly Pleasures'. The upbeat and rapid 'Girl's Who Play Guitars' finished the set initially before the encore to a deafening sound of crowd appreciation. The consistently high standard produced by Maximo Park throughout this gig warrants the repeated chants of 'Maximo!' in the down time before the encore.

The band finishes the evening on the fast moving 'Apply Some Pressure'. The Southampton crowd cheering the band offstage before realising normality had to return and therefore turning to leave. The band are still not the number 1 chart hitters but then who wants them to be? A band that works their socks off everytime they get onstage is what most would prefer to see. As if they have something to prove. Maximo Park however have nothing to prove having done so many times before and just keep getting stronger and stronger.