Kira Mac //Jayler // Live Review // The Brudenell Social Club // Leeds

On a chilly spring evening, we headed over to The Brudenell Social Club for Kira Mac on the opening night of her tour. It is sure to be a great night of incredible music and something we absolutely couldn’t miss!

First up however it’s a new one for us with Jayler. With an ominous intro track, there are just 3 members of the band on stage however as they burst into the first song, “No Woman”, the singer leaps on stage. With the full band now together, they line up, and strike a pose before literally leaping into action. Clearly excited to be on stage, they use this energy to add to their performance, leaping up onto the platform in the middle of the stage. The young band give a very 70s vibe in their appearance but has a clear modern twist to their sound. While promoting tracks of their debut EP, they are also throwing some new songs, “When You Go” and “The Getaway” into the mix that are full of catchy riffs and sing-along choruses. It’s not long before the crowd are completely enthralled with the group, clapping along and taking in everything these guys can give. Ending the set with “The Rinsk” and an incredible solo, there will no doubt be a queue around their merch table. If you’ve not heard of Jayler, they are a young band you definitely need to check out!

After a quick half-hour changeover, it’s time for Kira Mac to take to the stage. Kicking off with “Save your Whiskey” and “Dead Man Walking”, they’re starting the night strong! Despite it being the opening night, Rhiannon ‘Kira’ Hill is absolutely ready to go and is pouring her all into this performance. Her voice is in incredible condition as she belts out hit after hit including “Back For More”, “Hellfire & Holy Water” and “Mississippi Swinging”. Being this close to the crowd and feeling their energy, it’s very clear that the stage is somewhere where she feels at home and is completely in her element as she grins throughout. The band are matching Rhiannon’s energy as they make use of the small stage, being present in the moment and bouncing off one another. The packed-out room is taking in everything the band has to offer and voices can be heard singing along. It’s a very mixed crowd here tonight which only highlights the wide appeal that these guys have. There’s no doubt that for many it’s not the first time seeing them live and tonight’s performance is everything we expected and more. From the well-thought-out setlist including hits from their debut album ‘Chaos is Calling’ and new tracks from the yet-to-be-released new album, to the sheer energy of the performance, this first night is an amazing start to the tour. However, it’s Rhiannon’s banter between songs and humour that adds something extra to the night. The sheer down-to-earth way that she interacts with the crowd is part of what makes these shows so special and despite mentioning some nerves, you’d have never guessed from the way that she holds herself. As with everything though, the night can’t last forever and the last part of the show is where the guys really shine, fully settled into their rhythm. Ending with “Downfall” and “One Way Ticket” it’s been a hell of a night and you can clearly see why so many people here tonight have tickets for other shows on the tour. If you’ve not got your tickets yet, now’s the time to get on them before the tour ends!!

Review: Emmie Ellis 

Photography: Mark Ellis