Alternative rock band ‘American Authors’ from Brooklyn, New York caught most of our attention with their hit single ‘Best Day Of My Life’, which seemed to be everything during 2013, featuring on television adverts, video games and film trailers. The band returned from playing the festival circuit over summer (including Reading & Leeds Festival) with the news of a tour in which they were going to play a series of intimate venues around the UK.
One of these venues was Brudenell Social Club in Leeds; one of my favourite venues – atmosphere, intimacy, acoustics…the Brudenell is a live music lovers dream! The band took to the stage with the catchy upbeat track ‘Home’ from their current album ‘Oh, What A Life’, and performed a crowd pleasing set list which included the entirety of their current album, as well as their take on the ‘Coldplay’ track ‘Yellow’, and Sam Smith’s ‘Stay With Me’,
The set list also included a performance of a new track called ‘Nothing Better Than You’, which went down exceptionally well with the crowd. Lead singer Zac Barnett confided in the crowd about how much of a big deal it was for them to play a new track, but it honestly had everything an American Authors fan could possibly want.
The bands encore consisted of ‘Keep Me Dreaming’ from the bands 2011 album ‘Anthropology’, and their newest album title track ‘Oh, What A Life’, which Zac described to sum up the last couple of years of their lives. The bands thanks and appreciation to the fans was apparent for the entirety of the gig, as well as their talents. Drummer Matt Sanchez for example moved away from his kit and to the front of the stage during slower songs such as the Sam Smith cover. It was a nice change to see as usually in performances where the drums aren’t featured or are less prominent, the drummer takes a step back, but not Matt! It was also a pleasure to watch and appreciate the skillful lead guitarist James Adam Shelley at work.
The new American Authors track was an incredibly catchy song that I can’t wait to hear again, and if it’s that’s what we have to go by when it comes to making premonitions about their next album, then it’s going to soar and there’ll be adding to their ever growing fan base. I wouldn’t be surprised if the band are playing bigger venues on the next tour, so if you can see them in an intimate venue now, I’d get in there quick!
By Laura Dean – @modestlaura
