Reverend & The Makers live at Leeds, Stylus, 18.10.12

It was 2007 that ascertained their success, as ‘Heavyweight Champion of the World’ became a UK top 10 single - in the same month where more popularly renowned artists, such as The White Stripes, captured the public's attention, this was an impressive feat. Now, Reverend & The Makers are standing gallant and grand as ever. Although their latest album, @Reverend_Makers, cultivated motley reviews, Thursday's enrapturing display would have you believing otherwise.

Inside Stylus, a handful of indie kids and, let's say ripened, music lovers clutch their plastic cups of alcohol in a protective manner and approach the stage with an air of intrigue, Redwire (Bradford's finest, might I add), mixed with a little enticement, working their magic on the speculative assemblage and inducing a few appreciative ‘these are pretty decent, I'll listen to these again’ head nods. Twisted Wheel follow closely with an impressive set, and Danny Mahon, adding an amusing twist to the night, kindly dedicating his song, ‘Twat’, to a girl amongst the gathering, keeps the restless bunch entertained while waiting for the main act of the night.

Ryan Jenkinson is the first to take to the stage, hitting out a beat before the others emerge to the sound of ‘Bassline’ and wavering chants of “Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Yorkshire”. Need not a single hint from Jon McClure, the fans automatically bounce along to the rhapsodic serving of indie electro, foreheads quickly becoming much damper than they were not ten minutes ago. While the cumbersome Reverend encourages his spectators to “bounce higher”, the room seems to reduce in size as a smattering of inebriated blokes attempt to force their way into the heart of the action, inevitably managing to crush those at the front into the nooks and crannies of the, rather uncomfortable, stage.

Although ‘Shine the Light’ coerces a mirthful cheer from FIFA fans as it gets its airing, it's favourites from first studio album ‘The State of Things’ that truly get things hotting up. Undoubtedly, ‘Heavyweight Champion of the World’ is crowd favourite. However, virtually eminent are the ever worshipped ‘State of Things’ and, duet between spouses, ‘He Said He Loved Me’, which are thrown into the mix before they finish off with ‘The Machine’.

Customarily, the band make their way outside to play a twenty minute long acoustic set to the couple of hundred bibulous observers who've chosen to loiter. The Rev and his Makers soon rouse the attention of curious students, the occasional passerby stopping to ask “Excuse me, who are these?” and pulling out their smartphone to capture the engrossing moment on camera.

Not too shabby, as far as a Thursday night goes.

(Not completely accurate) Setlist:

• Bassline
• Bandits
• Open Your Window
• Warts N All
• Noisy Neighbour
• No Soap in a Dirty War
• Shine the Light
• Sex with the Ex
• Silence is Talking
• Heavyweight Champion of the World
• 1+0
• The Wrestler
• Armchair Detective
• Miss Brown
• The State of Things
• He Said He Loved Me
• The Machine

Written by Katie Bartle