Everyone has their favourite bands on the NME tours, so our editor grabbed some of the crowd to tell us who got them going, before getting excited about the headliners himself.
The Dome was almost at capacity before the NME Awards had even begun and by the time Peace had played the first chords to their ultra-hit ‘Bloodshake’ fans were crowd surfing and hitting each other. Must have been weird for Peace to open a show since the Birmingham foursome have become a household name for every hipster in the UK and possibly the world. An incredible way to start the night – Peace kicked the NME Awards’ doors in. (AA)
A hard act to follow isn’t what you want from your support and Palma Violets fit this role admirably for the headliners. However, they didn’t disappoint and brought some cracking noise in an energetic set reminiscent of Spiritualized and The Strokes with plenty of arms in the air. A longer set in a more intimate venue should suit so go see them next time they visit the seaside. (AW)
Miles Kane is the britpop equivalent of painting by numbers – we barely had to squint our ears to hear the obvious nods towards Oasis and The Verve. The baying mob of mop-topped indie kids looked so much like Miles Mini-Mes we wondered if he ever looks out from the stage and thinks he’s locked in a nightmarish Being John Malkovich type situation? We didn’t hear anything new tonight but he does do a fantastic pastiche of British 90s rock and we do love a good tribute band. (SB)
Before Django Django took to the stage for their headline spot we thought that they might be rather aloof. But as the stunning lighting expanded out from mere slats, it revealed them to be adorable, excitable geeks (albeit stylishly kitted out in matching shirts). Either they don’t take themselves too seriously and they’re funny guys or they’re totally serious and they’re nuts. Either suits us fine, especially when they’re giving a twist to their stunning debut that brings it a step closer to acid house, not least when ‘Skies Over Cairo’ picks up a brilliant spoken word vocal about the epic journey across the Downs to get to Brighton. (JK)
Dome, Thursday 21st February 2013
Words by Alice Ash, Andrew White, Simon Bate and James Kendall
Photos by James Kendall
