CityLife

Imperial Leisure

LONDON'S Imperial Leisure have been causing quite a stir down South of late.

Their rap infused ska-punk sound has gained them plenty of fans in the capital, but they remain something of an unknown quantity up here in the North.

Tonight at the Ruby Lounge, they set about putting that right.

Before the headliners are brass-driven rockers Advantage, who play a tight and impressive opening set. Known until very recently as Grown At Home, this six piece truly thrive in a live setting and look thrilled to be back onstage after a recent break for recording.

Stabbing horns

They have developed a stronger and more mature sound recently, and tunes like All In It (Take It) and Future Echoes contain stabbing horn-lines and driving guitar riffs which effortlessly get feet tapping.

It was a triumphant return to Manchester for these boys, and they are definitely ones to watch out for this year.

Imperial Leisure are themselves a well honed live act and their ska-rap stylings go down a storm with the eager crowd in the Ruby Lounge.

Infectiously happy and brimming with energy, IL are a breath of fresh air to watch live. They have a unique sound that possesses the funky brass and beats of ska and rap as well as the boundless energy and drive of punk rock.

Chanting

Man On The Street and Landlord’s Daughter get the crowd chanting and dancing along in unison. It is tracks like these two, and Beer Belly, that really give IL gigs a party atmosphere, and the feel good vibes they generate really make you long for a sun kissed summer days.

The band struggle to fit onto the Ruby Lounge’s stage, and this isn't even their full contingent. The keyboards and DJ are here, but only a solitary sax makes up the horn section. When at full strength, two other vocalists and brass players are added to the ranks to give IL a distinctively frantic sound.

Their catchy hooks and sing-along anthems are up there with the very best of the UK’s underground ska and punk scene, and it’s high time they began to replicate their popularity and success in the capital across the UK as a whole.

And all the evidence is that Imperial Leisure could well be one of the bands of the summer.  

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