Over the past decade since their emergence onto the British music stage, Athlete have remained a force to reckon with. Not only did they win the Ivor Novello Award in 2006, but they have been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, and have continuously held a reputable presence on the UK music charts. What is most apparent when listening to their four albums in succession is the indie rock band’s progression and growth over the years. Their most recent release, ‘Black Swan’ is credited on their website as “a musical summary of everything Athlete have been through; the good, the bad, and the ugly”.
When we first heard that Athlete were to play St. George’s in Brighton, we must admit we were a little sceptical as to how an epic rock band could fit within the hallowed walls of a church. However, staying true to the philosophy behind their last album, a church proved to be the best place for a laid bare Athlete. The evening was a smorgasbord of stripped-down hits, played with all the honesty worthy of a confession-laden church visit.
Opening up the set with their oldie ‘Half Light’, the congregation got up and clapped along, a move more akin to a Baptist sermon than a rock concert. The atmosphere was fantastic, with the muted lighting contrasting well against the band’s enthusiastic fans. Some highlights of the evening included the heart-wrenching ‘Black Swan Song’, which was written about lead singer Joel Pott’s grandfather, their classic ‘Vehicles and Animals’, sing-along favourite ‘You Got the Style’, and epic award-winner ‘Wires’. For the evening’s most magical moment, Pott descended into the crowd with his guitar, singing a minimalist version of ‘The Getaway’. You could almost smell the incense.
Although we entered sceptics, we left the church full-out Athlete believers. Not only did their stripped-down melodies ring true to their epic reputation, but they re-affirmed Athlete as one of the UK’s finest songsmiths. With their proven versatility and uncanny ability to engross the audience, Athlete have proven themselves as not just competitors, but as marathon runners in the indie rock race.
Athlete at St. George’s Church
14 July 2011
WORDS BY KATE DAVIES
