Peace - Live Review (again)

Peace - Cluny, Newcastle (5/3/15)

Callum Thornhill

I asked in December where do Peace go from a fantastic 2014, it is now evident that they were going to better but not quite bigger things.

A sell out Cluny played host to the Birmingham four piece's opening night and oh lord did it deliver. Supported by the massively hyped Yak (can see why), Peace had the 300 strong capacity in their hand throughout.

Celebrating the release of Happy People, Koisser and co. were playing a variety of Happy People, In Love and EP Delicious material. All of it sounded incredible in such an intimate venue.

Wearing the thickest possible fur coat, Harrison Koisser, brother Sam, Doug Castle and rock rep Dom Boyce graced the north east with their presence in a confined Newcastle venue.

The band opened with Follow Baby as they usually do, from this moment on the crowd was carnage. The smell is something I can only describe as the combination of perspiration and charity shops - a mucky mixture. Denim jackets and striped shirts everywhere, the Peace look has certainly rubbed off on their fans.

The first single from Happy People, Money, was played and had fans screaming the lyrics back at one of the smallest stages I've ever seen. Strangely followed by the mellow Float Forever, the crowd were serenading one another arm in arm - a concept that you certainly expect in an energetic Peace crowd.

The best combination of songs was still to come - three quarters of EP Delicious played in a row was magical to hear. California Daze, another track that is chilled out and gets the crowd singing their hearts out was included in the set.

The highlight for me followed California Daze..

After seeing Peace three times prior to March 5th yet still never witnessing 1998 live, it was finally time to hear 9 minutes of pure pleasure. I can now see why so many people get a massive buzz from hearing it!

Bloodshake came afterwards and sounded as amazing as always. Peace really are a faultless band when it comes to live performances.

Still strutting in the fur coat, now heavier with a silly amount of sweat, Harrison swaggered off stage before returning for a three song encore. It wasn't before drummer Dom Boyce gave a few words after the crowd chanted "Boycey, Boycey, Boycey!" over and over again.

Peace returned only a minute of so after, blasting out Someday - a personal favourite from Happy People. Higher Than The Sun followed Someday as the night came to a close.

No Peace gig is complete nowadays without the bass heavy World Pleasure being played, of course we got the pleasure (pun? Maybe) of hearing it.

"Let's see how long we can play" was the message given by Harrison Koisser before the track was played.

Sam Koisser lived up to high expectations and the bass sounded incredible. I've always thought that Peace and World Pleasure going together was the biggest common idea since One Night Only releasing Just For Tonight (an amazing track that has no relevance to Peace..)

Jumping up onto the stage monitor, Sam made the crowd even crazier, all trying to grab a hold of him. Still, he was professional and played excellently as you'd expect.

Peace announced their largest UK tour to date a couple of weeks ago and you should totally get one - I promise you won't regret it!

Get them here - Peace Sept/Oct tickets (they're once again supported by Yak, also Splashh).

Hear a six second clip of World Pleasure here: