With the latest fashion trend in guitar bands, teenage girls have taken over gig venues. As Maximo Park walked on stage, the shrill screaming was more suited to a pop concert than a dark and sticky floored smokey venue. Throughout their set fans were reaching to touch their idols, even though even 3 months ago, they would not have heard of these idols. It's scary how bands that have only released 3 singles, can create this kind of devotion. Or maybe it's just that everyone's downloaded the leaked album already, and they know that this is one of THE pop albums of this year.
Maximo Park, however, are stars of this quick second generation of British guitar bands of this century. There are unexpected twists and turns in their melodies, and songs that are so infectious that you don't realise how great they are until you take a break from them, such as the latest single Graffiti. And they are more than just a guitar band. The way that singer Paul Smith sings with his full on Northeastern accent, with emphasis on the rounded vowels, drawing out the words, adds so much to their overall sound. They have shown that it is possible to make intelligent and interesting pop music.
This band already have obsessive Japanese fans, it's only a matter of weeks before the British will follow suit. For a band only signed last year, they will be stars before the year is over.