(Needless to say, the ghost did not take kindly to Los Campesinos swiping its favourite prosthetic nose. © 2009 Adam Maddox.)
I know you’re wondering, so I’ll tell you. A campesino is a farmer in Spanish. More specifically, a peasant-like farmer who aims to survive rather than generate a profit. But whether or not the band was aiming to be quite so esoteric, Los Campesinos! are getting their name around and they rocked hard at Richard’s on Richards on Saturday, April 11th.
Los Campesinos! are a pop-punk band that formed in early 2006. Combining chaotic British punk influences with a certain indescribable “tweeness”, they’re composed of seven young university grads from Cardiff, Wales. Initially, it was just Neil (guitar), Ellen (bass) and Ollie (drums). But then Tom (lead guitar and songwriter) met Neil after overhearing him talk about Sufjan Stevens at some club, and joined the band before being followed by Gareth (vocals and glockenspiel), Harriet (violin and keyboard) and Aleksandra (vocals, keyboards, and melody horn). I’m pretty sure I saw a cowbell somewhere in there too, but hell if I know who was playing it. I mean, did you see all those names?
(Harriet Campesinos being all hot and stuff. © 2009 Adam Maddox.)
With more energy than a pack of chimps fleeing a house fire, Tom and Neil didn’t hesitate to jump down to the dance floor or climb up onto the porch to get a bird’s eye view of their buddies rocking the stage. I couldn’t help but notice an asthma inhaler with him the whole time. I guess Tom’s not letting it get him down.
They played a solid range of songs from angsty to celebratory, covering material from both Hold On Now, Youngster… and We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed (both technically released in 2008), making everyone in the crowd goosepimply in only the way a tight, solid band can. I was expecting the venue to sell out, but Richard's had space for plenty more. Must’ve been because of Easter weekend. A lot of people probably thought it would be more appropriate to celebrate the execution of Jesus with bunny rabbits, candy eggs and relatives they don’t even like instead. Clearly, Los Campesinos! is a much better alternative.
Click the link to see Adam Maddox's photo slideshow of Los Campesinos @ Richard's on Richards!
Los Campesinos! are a pop-punk band that formed in early 2006. Combining chaotic British punk influences with a certain indescribable “tweeness”, they’re composed of seven young university grads from Cardiff, Wales. Initially, it was just Neil (guitar), Ellen (bass) and Ollie (drums). But then Tom (lead guitar and songwriter) met Neil after overhearing him talk about Sufjan Stevens at some club, and joined the band before being followed by Gareth (vocals and glockenspiel), Harriet (violin and keyboard) and Aleksandra (vocals, keyboards, and melody horn). I’m pretty sure I saw a cowbell somewhere in there too, but hell if I know who was playing it. I mean, did you see all those names?
(Harriet Campesinos being all hot and stuff. © 2009 Adam Maddox.)
With more energy than a pack of chimps fleeing a house fire, Tom and Neil didn’t hesitate to jump down to the dance floor or climb up onto the porch to get a bird’s eye view of their buddies rocking the stage. I couldn’t help but notice an asthma inhaler with him the whole time. I guess Tom’s not letting it get him down.
They played a solid range of songs from angsty to celebratory, covering material from both Hold On Now, Youngster… and We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed (both technically released in 2008), making everyone in the crowd goosepimply in only the way a tight, solid band can. I was expecting the venue to sell out, but Richard's had space for plenty more. Must’ve been because of Easter weekend. A lot of people probably thought it would be more appropriate to celebrate the execution of Jesus with bunny rabbits, candy eggs and relatives they don’t even like instead. Clearly, Los Campesinos! is a much better alternative.
Click the link to see Adam Maddox's photo slideshow of Los Campesinos @ Richard's on Richards!
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