LIVE: Turin Brakes (Exeter Phoenix, 25/2/16)

South Londoners Turin Brakes brought their indie/folk rock to Exeter as part of an extensive UK tour to support new album Lost Property. This leg was one of several dates to have sold out, underlining the support this long-standing band retains despite relatively modest airplay and commercial exposure nowadays.

They first burst onto the scene way back in 2001 with the release of The Optimist LP, an album featuring breakthrough song Underdog (Save Me). Original members Olly Knights (lead vocals/guitar) and Gale Paridjanian (guitar/vocals) are now permanently joined by long term collaborators Eddie Myer on bass and Rob Allum on drums, and it makes for a live sound that is at the same time simple yet beautifully rich.

Knight’s distinctive vocals sound as good – if not better – now than in the early days but with seven albums under their belt, it is their collective musicianship that makes their live show so engaging; Paridjanian’s guitar providing a diverse range to the material, Myer’s bass the depth and backbone, and Allum’s understated but highly skilled drumming keeping the whole as tight and slick as it is possible to be.

Their set achieved the right balance between new and older material, with plenty of tracks from Lost Property given an airing (including the excellent Keep Me Around) as well as older favourites from throughout the back catalogue such as Mind Over Money and Fishing For A Dream. Seemingly wrapping up with Underdog (Save Me), the Exeter crowd was then treated to a second encore by a band that genuinely enjoy their live shows and didn’t seem to want to stop any more than the fans wanted it to end.

Their tour continues throughout the UK during March, before the band embark on several European dates in Germany, Italy and Holland ahead of summer festival slots at Bestival, Cornbury and Isle of Wight (see dates).