Pigeon Detectives rock Leeds' Millennium Square
The Pigeons returned to the roost with a bang.
Raucous crowds rocked and rolled for the Leeds lads who hit home after a heady year of climbing their way to the top.
It was their biggest gig to date as the rock band were the headline act in a thumping, pumping two night, sell-out gig in the city centre.
And we loved it!
Like a rolling wave that reached its crescendo at nightfall, the Pigeon Detectives were the climax of a four band gig which set Leeds on fire.
First up at the Millennium Square event on Saturday were Little Thoughts who were winners of an online Yorkshire Evening Post competition.
It was the Yorkshire band's first big gig - and they were terrified!
But delighted to win the incredible prize of supporting the Pigeon Detectives, frontman Johnny Burton, 18, told the YEP: "I was so shocked and surprised to win! We thought there was no chance and now here we are! I feel excited but nervous - we've never done anything like this!"
Feisty band The Rascals were on next followed by energetic rocksters The Twang who really got the crowd raring to go.
By this time, well oiled fans were crowd surfing - and rolling straight into the arms of security men stationed at the front.
It was frantic, it was messy and it was fun. This was all part of the Live at Leeds festival which brought national names alongside the hottest local talent who performed at venues around the city centre over the Bank Holiday weekend.
And on Saturday, the sun shone, the crowd roared and it all went wild for the Pigeon Detectives who took centre stage at 9pm.
But they gave a surprise show even before the party started after taking to the floor to sign autographs for fans who had been waiting to see their heroes in the square from 5pm.
After their success last year, the Rothwell-based band played in front of 16,000 fans on both nights of the festival.
They aren't as big as the Kaiser Chiefs or the Artic Monkeys but boy, does Leeds love 'em.
And this year, rumour has it, these guys are gonna be big. Judging by the weekend's performance, it's no surprise.
The Pigeon Detectives are up there with the best of them and they played like super stars.
So it was a big surprise to hear that charismatic lead singer Matt gets the most nervous before taking to the stage.
Guitarist Ryan Wilson told the YEP that this was the band's biggest event to date.
"Matt, the singer, does get a little bit nervous. It's our home town, then we've got our family and friends here and I do get nervous but it's also the biggest ever Pigeon Detectives gig so far - the biggest we have done as a headlining band. Fantastic."
Leeds University students Holly Williamson and Katherine James summed the event up perfectly when they concluded: "It's been a riot, an absolute riot!"
An unpredictable one at that!
Posted: Tuesday, May 06, 2008
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