Our Fave Gigs Of 2024 // FM // Collateral // Leeds

On a rare and beautiful Sunday in Leeds, we’re returning to the Brudenell Social Club for two of our favourite bands as the FM ‘Old Habits Die Hard 40th Anniversary Tour’ rolls into town.

With the bright lights hitting the stage, Collateral takes to the small, packed stage as the intro track plays, ready to kick things off with “Glass Sky”. Angelo Tristan bursts onto the stage shortly after the rest with bundles of energy and the attitude of playing a sold-out arena show. He’s quickly bouncing and dancing across the front of the stage trying to look out at everyone who has come down early to see them play. The benefit of it being a small stage tonight is the fact that the band are all close together and you get the opportunity to see Ben Atkinson hit the skins. Flanking either side of the stage are guitarist Todd Winger And bassist Jack Bently-Smith exuding their energy and some serious playing faces. Knowing that they don’t have a long set list, the band power through track after track including new hits like “Final Stand” and “No Place for Love” as well as the familiar favourite “Mr Big Shot” and ending with “Merry Go Round” and “Midnight Queen”. It’s been a high-energy start to the evening as Collateral do what they do best bringing high energy and catchy, hard-hitting tunes.

COLLATERAL
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With Collateral’s gear now off the stage, it’s a pretty good size stage and bigger than the venue’s other room. There’s plenty of room for all the band including Jem Davis’ triple keyboard stand in the corner. There’s a huge cheer from the FM fans out tonight as the band take to the stage to their intro track before kicking things off with “Digging up the Dirt” and “Tough it Out”. Steve Overland is in high spirits tonight as he struts across the stage with his microphone stand and interacts with the rest of the band along with the crowd. Despite celebrating 40 years as the band, FM have the vigour of many newer bands which along with their catalogue of catchy and melodic tunes shows exactly why they’re able to pack out venues year after year. All of that with Jim Kirkpatrick’s skilled guitar playing and bassist Merv Goldsworthy and drummer Pete Jupp holding a steady rhythm, make the band a force to be reckoned with. There’s also a lot of gratitude for the fans and as Overland said it’s thanks to the people like tonight who continue to come out and see them that allows them to keep going but then that’s an easy thing to do with the band continuing to create hit after hit. No night is the same either as they look to make small changes to the set list each night, keeping things interesting both for the fans who head to multiple shows as well as for the band themselves. Tonight sees some older tracks with “Someday You’ll Come Running”, “Closer to Heaven” and “Hot Wired”. There are hits from their latest album ‘Old Habits Die Hard’ too with “Out of the Blue” and “Don’t Need Another Heartache” as well as the more familiar favourites such as “Killed by Love” and “That Girl”. It’s certainly a show that can be enjoyed by fans old and new with something for everyone. As always, FM has provided a killer night of great music with an incredible vibe as they end with “Turn this Car Around”, “Story of My Life” and “Other Side of Midnight”. Here’s to hoping that they continue to provide great shows and amazing tunes but in the meantime, if you haven’t already you can still catch them on this tour!

Review: Emmie Ellis

Photography: Mark Ellis