Finally, after an unsuccessful attempt to launch the band off a large label, Little Comet’s debut ‘In Search of Elusive Little Comets’ is here, and on their album tour, they stopped off at our very own Cockpit here in Leeds. The album is a real triumph, filled with the band’s perception of cheerful yet clever alternative pop described mysteriously as ‘kitchen sink indie music’ which I was lucky enough to watch on Wednesday 3rd of February.
The first support act opening the evenings proceedings was the uninspiring Leeds based ‘Afraid Like You’ playing a selection of optimistically dancey yet lacklustre songs. The main support ‘The Big Sleep’ however was encouragingly better. Playing only a short set of powerful indie tracks, with attention-grabbing vocals, the band offered a profound and reassuring level of quirkiness. Although the lead singer’s choice of vest was slightly disconcerting, they were thoroughly enjoyable, mingling with the crowd immediately after their set.
As Little Comets began to appear I interestingly watched the band string up a rope across the stage from which oven trays and pots hung, which I later found out they were to be used for the introduction of their exceptional track ‘One night in October’. Getting rowdy at times, the audience participated well, chanting for the tracks they knew and held dear. One thing you can definitely say about this band is that they’re catchy. Playing ‘Friday Don’t Need It’ second last on the set list, I found myself walking around the house a few hours later singing to myself the repeated chorus ‘Don’t need it, Don’t need it, Don’t need it”.
Musically the set was centered on Indie pop guitar riffs and overlays with some other peculiar sounds filling the back of the tracks. The Lead vocals of Robert Coles are really quite distinctive, working well with the tone of the music and vocal harmonies from the other members of the band. The crowd crushed forward happily reciting back the words to the bands most recent single ‘Joanna’ with the anthemic lyrics “It’s the morning and it still doesn’t feel right”. Lyrically and musically intricate the band performed a perfectly balanced and unique gig. It is rare that I ever listen to an album or see an artist and like them immediately, but Little Comets have really put something extraordinary together.
