Since 2008 I have been religiously following my favourite local band, The Maccabees. I have watched the Brighton boys go from small scale local venues to their highest capacity venue yet, London’s Alexandra Palace. Album after album, the band continued to grow and develop into the potential stadium fillers they are today.
Friday 9th March 2012, the band returned to their roots for a homecoming gig at The Brighton Dome. Knowing that the event was sold out, I prepared myself for an audience consisting of both loyal fans and hipster-wannabe’s. With the recent release of their third ’gown-up’ album Given To The Wild, I was interested to see what kind of crowd tonight’s show would attract. After any Maccabees gig, I always find myself cooing‘That was the best they’ve played’ which shows that as their music and albums progress, so do their performances. However on this occasion, although musically it was incomparable, I was left feeling disheartenedand anguished.
There has been a considerable change in style from their ‘indie’ beginnings with 2007 debut Colour It Inbut The Maccabees continue to write positive songs which wasreflected in their fan base and atmosphere at their gigs. Much to my surprise I found myself in a situation which I hadn’t come across or even seen at a Maccabees performance before, a mosh pit.
With the band at the peak of their careers and finally entering the mainstream this was inevitable.It seems as though when the audience profile widens and amove away from catering just for theniche followers occurs, the consequence is a complete change in attitude from the audience. It just concerns me that long time followers of the band who appreciate and embrace the music in its intended frivolity are now left feeling this way, but perhaps we should just be happy that our favourite bands have been able to reach this level of popularity?
