#final shows

So it was announced a few days ago that Bal Vampirov will be shown from 11th of June till 21 of July 2019 in St.Petersburg’s Theatre of Musical Comedy. Although it had been said earlier, that final performances were in winter, still here it is again. As it is said in the VK group news: FINAL SHOWS, ONE LAST TIME. I’m very happy that show goes on. No news about the cast, though, but when the new information appears, I’ll post it, I promise :)

Artist: The Maccabees

Venue:  Alexandra Palace, London, UK

Date: 30th June 2017

Rating: 8.5/10

15th July 2016: The Maccabees headline Latitude Festival – putting on the performance of their careers so far. 31st July 2016: The Maccabees release fourth LP ‘Marks to Prove It’, it goes straight in at number one. For the South London troop, it appeared that after years on a steady ascent, they were on the cusp of greatness; to be mentioned in the same esteem as Radiohead, Arcade Fire and Coldplay. For a group who had, up to that point, never released a bad album – in fact, each of the outfit’s four records garnered critical and fan acclaim - the quintet had managed to plough their own furrow, somewhere between lovingly introverted and a little laddish. The Maccabees were a band everyone had a soft spot for, so to see them top festival bills and score number one albums, it was like the rest of the music consuming public had caught up with all the devotees who had been seduced all those years ago when ‘X-Ray’ won our hearts back in 2015.  

8th August 2016: The Maccabees announce they’re splitting up. Something that no-one saw coming, a band at their peak, calling it a day. A statement would declare “there have not been fallings out and we are grateful to say that we are not leaving the group as a dividing force”. The band then promised a final jaunt of farewell shows. Fast forward to Friday 30th June and The Maccabees are playing a second of three sold out shows at London’s Alexandra Palace – their penultimate gig before they close the last chapter of a band that will always be universally adored.

The atmosphere in Ally Pally is relaxed, perhaps The Maccabees’ faithful following aren’t admitting it to themselves that, this. Is. It? Suffice to say, when the five-piece saunter onto the London venue’s stage – the almighty roar that greets them brings a lump to our throat – this is going to be a special night. Equally parts funeral and wake, it seems like punters and band are holding a little back when it comes to fully throwing themselves into full-on celebratory mode. After all we’re all gathered in this sweat box to give back love to The Maccabees for crafting beautifully heartfelt, awkward pop songs and to give them a right royal goodbye. ‘Wall of Arms’ opens the night’s second to last show; they sound huge – a heady mix of three guitars creating a dazzling wall of sound but it isn’t until the sixth track ‘Love You Better’ that the ice is finally broken – this number taken from the group’s superb debut album ‘Colour It In’ kick starts a slew of rapturous sing-a-longs and the kind of arms aloft adulation normally associated with the second coming. ‘Precious Time’ follows, and with it, the Ally Pally contingent can be heard in fine voice. Casting our eyes across the crowd, it’s a mixture of fans grinning from ear to ear or wiping away a tear or two. From here on in, both band and audience are locked in a beautiful union – it’s as if those gathered in the grandiose London setting declared “yeah, it is the end of one of our most cherished bands but we’ll bloody well give them a proper send-off”.

There’s a moment in tonight’s rapturous performance where The Maccabees hit a sweet spot reeling out ‘Latchmere’, ‘Lego’, X-Ray’, ‘No Kind Words’ and ‘Forever I’ve Known’ in quick succession. The first three songs taking us back to the whip-cracking, jerky indie of the band’s first album and then a journey into albums two and three, ‘Wall of Arms’ and ‘Given To The Wild’ – two tracks that illustrate how the five-piece expanded their sonic palette whilst still maintaining the quirkiness of their earlier work. The main set is bought to a close by ‘Something Like Happiness’ where The Maccabees are given a helping hand by Mystery Jets and Marcus Mumford. There’s a poignant moment during this ceiling busting track where the penny drops and the lyric of “If it’s over/let it be over” takes on a new lease of life. Whereas before it was interpreted as a reflection on a loving relationship coming to an end – this poignant line could well be a statement on the band’s amicable divorce. It’s this track’s hook line of ‘woah-oh woah-oh oooooh’ that the group’s captivated crowd will holler back, long after the group have disappeared into the shadows prior to the encore.

The Maccabees then return from the wings to effortlessly prove why they’ll be sorely missed, with a four-song encore made up of the riotous ‘Marks to Prove it’, ‘First Love’s youthful romantic bounce, a tender rendition of ‘Toothpaste Kisses’ and then, ‘Pelican’s staccato jauntiness brings down the curtain on a bittersweet night of smiles and tears. Ticker tape sprays across the crowd, a screen displays the simple words; Thank You and both band and fans are united in a mutual love for one another – both knowing that this is the end of something very special and beautiful.

Orlando Weeks, Felix White, Hugo White, Sam Doyle, Rupert Jarvis and Robert Dylan Thomas (hey you may have left the band in 2008 but you helped make The Maccabees what they are) thank you for four incredible albums, countless outstanding live shows and ultimately, thank you for making the kind of music that makes your feet move and your heart swell. You will be missed. Long live The Maccabees.  

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