The last time I checked, things weren’t meant to be like this. The Cayman Islands weren’t meant to win the World Cup; a Welsh Nationalist isn’t supposed to be voted in as British Prime Minister; and cool Superman isn’t supposed to be defeated by rubbish Captain America. Certainly, support bands aren’t meant to thoroughly outclass their headlining compatriots. Alright, maybe the first three haven’t happened quite yet (although I hear the Cayman Islands are a footballing behemoth-in-waiting), but the last one definitely has. Tonight, for example.
One would expect Turin Brakes – riding high on the back of chart success – to be as pumped as a female bodybuilder. But in terms of presence, they were completely backheeled into second place by the understated I Am Kloot, who dusted off their Mancunian charms for the benefit of Leeds University.
Although they were not supplying a full set, what Kloot (and, more specifically, diminutive lead singer John Bramwell) produced was a sometimes tender, sometimes excited, but always heartfelt, montage of past and present material.
Highpoints of their haunting and slightly dark performance were new single ‘Untitled # 1’ and ‘To You’ – dedicated to “the girl at the front wearing a I Am Kloot T-shirt” – which showcased the band’s reflective lyrics and idiosyncratic melodies at their best.
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It would be too easy to compare Kloot to Oasis, but this comparison would be inaccurate due to Bramwell’s ability to write songs that actually mean something (or at least seem as if they do). No, maybe Oasis mixed with Paul Weller would be more accurate. Whatever the case, comparisons are meaningless. I Am Kloot is a band in its own right.
The whole trio was entirely motionless throughout the show (especially bassist Pete Jobson, who seemed to be concentrating on his bass so hard that he would suddenly invoke The Force and cause his instrument to float across the stage), which was a shame. The songs were not exactly conducive to dance as such, but some activity above rest-home level would have been nice.
Nevertheless, Bramwell was as iconic as a frontman as ever. Definitely more so than Captain America. But Superman would still win in a fight.
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