the Thursday 01 November 2007, Brighton Engine Room

McQueen

McQueen toured the UK in January to co-incide with the release of the album Break The Silence. Their Autumn tour revisited many of the same venues, including the Engine Room in hometown Brighton. On this occasion they were definitely preaching to the converted as the club was packed and the majority of those in attendance were familiar with the songs from the album which with the addition of a previous single release, Like I Care, made up the set list.

Over the course of the Summer the band performed at numerous festivals around Europe to significantly larger audiences, but the intimacy of the venue, the presence of some of the band's friends and family and an audience of enthusiastic fans served to create a very special atmosphere. The songs from Break The Silence all seem to have an extra something in live performance, but Dirt and Blinded particularly stood out for me. In between the powerful tunes vocalist Leah Duors had a very amusing line in stage patter, including threats to the boisterous moshers of the fate awaiting them if they should knock over her mother who was there.

Having played many bigger shows the band seemed larger than life in a small room, on a tiny stage with the crowd close enough to be hit by their sweat. I felt lucky to be there, because if they continue to produce performances like this one the small clubs will surely be a thing of the past.

Sinafter.