LIVE: Peace @ Liverpool Sound City 24.05.15

Reading articles and festival brochures commenting on how ‘hot’ and ‘in’ Peace are, I had dismissed this as typical trivialisation and hype. A few minutes into their set however, and a realisation strikes me about the relevance of this well marketed fad-talk, here is a band crystallising their status as something truly worthwhile.

The Worcester four piece start as they mean to go on with the upbeat tones of ‘Gen Strange’. This anthemic, brit-popish tune serves as hook, line and sinker. Being fairly new to Peace, it is immediately clear that their fan base is dedicated, mighty and not averse to throwing themselves around a bit. As the movement continues into more new material ‘Lost on Me’ and riff-driven ‘I’m a Girl’, Harry Koisser bellows “Do you feel like a man, ’cause you got blood on your hands? If we’re living in a man’s world, I’m a girl.”

These sweeping, somewhat blunt cries of anger and artistic commentary come across as genuine and engaging. One could be forgiven for thinking the whole thing was a construction considering the 30ft CND logo behind the band, but this harking back to an age where bands tried to summon or reflect popular dissatisfaction seems less of an artifice and more of a legitimate longing.

“Welcome little teethers, Welcome to a world, Where Bitcoins pay for beatings And diamonds pay for girls”.

Towards the centre of the set, Peace perform a cover of Binary Finary ‘1998’, this trance classic transfers excellently on to live instruments, the whole band are thrashing about by the crescendo, injecting a little Ibiza into the party atmosphere.

The performance is brought to a close by the catchy hooks and bass-line builds of recent single ‘World Pleasure’, Samuel Kossier stands centre stage and leans over the barrier to guide the frantic masses into the final groove. It is notable to mention that The Flaming Lips with all their glitter and zorbs and parades, conjure nowhere near the response from the crowd as these four lads from the midlands playing with just a logo behind them.

On reflection, I happily join the wave of critics marking their place in history and recognising Peace as a band destined for greatness. BELIEVE THE HYPE.

Luke Savage