As Michelle said in her blog, we had a great time at the ‘Lee Jeans Moves East’ event. This probably had more to do with the canapes than the clothes, however, but little did those who had left early for other events know that the best was yet to come.
Excuse me for being out of the loop, but I had never heard of, or indeed heard, Pete and the Pirates before this event. The name, and the fact that I guessed Lee were trying to inject an element of edgy cool into their image with this venture, meant that I was expecting something a bit nasty, a bit ramshackle and, well, buccaneering. What the Lee audience were treated with, however, was a very tight, very accomplished set from a band who’s music NME describe as “perfect pop without the pretence.”
The band’s name had led me to presume Pete and the Pirates would be all style over substance. I was wrong of course, as the slightly geeky five piece demonstrated a really full, aurally satisfying sound that came from a duo, sometimes a trio, of guitars backed up by skilled bass and drums.
Wonderful harmonising and lilting guitars give the Pirates a 1960’s feel, especially on stand out track “She doesn’t belong to me”. “Mr Understanding”, the band’s best known track, was pulled out of the bag towards the end of the set. With this song it seems certain that all types of success are not far away for the Pirates. I mean, it’s so damn catchy that many an indie pop lover will be immediately hooked (although, unfortunately I can foresee this song inspiring Fratelli style terrace sing-a-longs).
Catching Pete and the Pirates at Lee left me happily surprised. I hadn’t known what to expect (and honestly wasn’t expecting much) from this promotional event, but came away really happy to have discovered a band that renewed my belief in well crafted, skillfully delivered indie pop.
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