Source: theregoesthefear.com

It’s always nice when a band play a venue a lot smaller to those they’ve grown accustomed too, which was exactly what happened this afternoon when Southampton foursome Delays graced the miniscule stage of Camden’s Lock Tavern for Clash magazine.

Spending the best part of an hour wowing the assembled fans, media and curious regulars they ripped through a selection of B-sides, covers and old favourites. Everything was stripped back to the core, and whilst the electric bass and guitars were kept, Aaron’s synths were kept well away, leaving him to look a bit lost with a tambourine.

Thrown in halfway through the set was a brilliant cover of James’ “Laid”, however as lead-singer Greg commented “hopefully you all know it well enough to cover up the bits we don’t know”. Quickly followed by some birthday wishes for some lucky fans, “…and the lucky bingo numbers!” joked Greg, clearly enjoying doing a more stripped down, laid back set.

A quick jog down memory lane with “Nearer than Heaven” and time is rapidly running out, so Panic Attacks from their recent “Love Made Visible” EP is given a complete makeover, becoming a sensational crowd sing-along, raising the roof of the tiny pub, even getting a few of the smokers outside on the patio looking in. Closing out was a cover of Neil Diamond’s “Cherry Cherry”, which they recently played on Dermot O’Leary’s Radio 2 show.

All too soon their set was over, leaving the Long Blondes to DJ out the night at the Lock Tavern. However, for those of us lucky enough to be there will testify: if they can bring down the Lock Tavern in such style we’d hate to think what they can do to Koko in May.

After the jump: More photos

Source: theregoesthefear.com

Fresh off their spring tour, my favourite band ever, Delays have announced a new jaunt around the UK for May. The Southampton foursome are finalising the tour dates, but expect them to be added here as we hear of them.

Tickets go on sale next Wednesday, 21st March. Catch the guys at:

Friday 9th May - Norwich Waterfront
Friday 16th May - London Koko
Tuesday 20th May - Birmingham Academy 2

Source: theregoesthefear.com

As you all probably know, I have a major thing for Delays. Their summery pop just makes me melt, and thus you can imagine my (almost) pant wetting excitment when they announced a new tour earlier today.

Tickets go on sale on a variety of dates between now and Monday. Some dates are already on sale.

Thursday 14th February - Wolverhampton Little Civic
Friday 15th February - Bristol Louisiana
Wednesday 20th February - Edinburgh Liquid Rooms
Thursday 21st February - Aberdeen Moshulu
Sunday 24th February - York Fibbers
Tuesday 26th February - Hull The Lamp
Wednesday 27th February - Cambridge Graduate
Sunday 2nd March - Northampton Soundhaus
Tuesday 4th March - Nottingham Bodega
Friday 7th March - JD Presents Spring and Airbrake
Sunday 9th March - Dublin Sugar Club
Tuesday 11th March - Oxford Academy
Thursday 13th March - Stoke Sugar Mill
Friday 14th March - Leeds Cockpit
Sunday 16th March - Gloucester Guildhall

Source: theregoesthefear.com

As I’ve mentioned before, Delays are one of my favourite bands. And they’ve just announced a new tour. For their new EP. Which will be great. So go.

Tickets go on sale on Tuesday Sept 18th (thats next Tuesday). Catch them at the below dates:

Wednesday 7th November - Cardiff Barfly
Thursday 8th November - Manchester Night and Day
Friday 9th November - Southampton Joiners
Monday 12th November - Birmingham Bar Academy
Tuesday 13th November - Glasgow King Tuts
Thursday15th November - London Hoxton Bar and Grill

Source: theregoesthefear.com

Along with the Christmas party, another British institution of late appears to be the trend of bands doing a special one-off Christmas show in their hometown. This is the case with Southampton’s Delays, who played Oxford’s tiny Zodiac on Tuesday ahead of their hometown gig at Southampton’s Guildhall on Wednesday.

Their epic, summery songs are the perfect antidote to the freezing temperatures outside, adding some warmth to the audience. After a short intense set by Oxford based Fell City Girl for support, Delays walked on stage and burst right into “Lost in a Melody”, an electronic tinged stomper that is equally at home in the fields of festivals and the caverns of clubs. With this, Aaron, Greg, Colin and Rowly ran headlong into about 20 songs of pure quality that could convert even the most hardened of sceptics.

“On” has reminded me of Hot Chip’s “Over and Over” for a while now, with its catchy repetitiveness, and rather nice use of the strobes in the tiny Zodiac made for an entrancing song. “Bedroom Scene” was a chance for three quarters of Delays to take a break, as they left Greg to do the gentle strum with a lone light and a mass sing-along that didn’t quite work. The rest of Delays returned for new song “Girls on Fire”, which is tipped to be on their new album that’s going to be out next Summer reportedly, and if all goes to plan should set the festival scene on fire.

They closed their main set with “Long Time Coming” from their debut “Faded Seaside Glamour”, and Greg’s masterful footwork and over-excitability clearly made several girls at the front’s day. This was the song that got everybody going, having shaken off the winter blues and finally embraced the warmth they were giving off to the crowd.

When they came back for an encore we got a special version of “White Christmas” with Greg solo on his guitar, which was sublime and made my evening. We then got treated to two of Delays best songs from their last album, “Hideaway” and “Valentine”, both pop-classics in the making, and both failed to make much entry into the public’s mind.

Sometimes bands just don’t make as much impact into the public’s consciousness as they should, and Delays appear to have this misfortune. However, whilst this is the case they’ll continue to play small shows of people “in the know”.