14th April 2016

Maybeshewill
The Y Theatre

by Keith Jobey

Maybeshewill – you must have heard of them. Come on, they’re the tenth most famous band to have come from Leicester. Tenth most famous and ten years old. But sadly, after four albums, numerous festival appearances, countless gigs and world tours, they’ve decided to call it a day. So here we are at their curtain call in the delightful Y Theatre to witness their final appearance in Leicester.

Her Name Is Calla never fail to impress. It was only last year that they celebrated their 10th birthday with a series of events at Firebug. No coincidence. The bands grew up together. They’re shared vinyl amongst other things. There’s a wonderful spilt 12″ single featuring them both from 2008. So in honour of Maybeshewill they opened tonight’s show and publically stated their love and friendship of the band. They also threw in a cover of a Tired Irie tune as well. Another band intertwined in their collective history.

Next are You Slut! Again a band associated with the headliners. And a band that I have to say I’ve heard off many times but failed to catch live. Like the headliners, they are an instrumental affair, but a little more math rock in style.

Maybeshewill then took to a Leicester stage for the last time. Robin Southby, John Helps, Jamie Ward, James Collins and Matthew Daly. Names that are almost as well-known now for what they do outside the band as within it. It was a show full of emotion, the band seemed genuinely touched by the send-off they were getting. The sold out crowd would have been happy if they played all night, but it had to come to an end.

So as the final curtain falls on Maybeshewill, what we have left is a wonderful legacy. The roots and branches of the band’s tree reach far and wide, but are nowhere more visible than in the Leicester music scene. Thanks Maybeshewill.

Maybeshewill in the history books

Trevor Locke looks back at the career of Maybeshewill and presents a selection of pieces published in Arts in Leicester magazine.

2009

14 – 16/8: Summer Sundae Weekender festival sees some national names and a good load of local bands and acts. Razmataz open the main stage (14/8) and the Heroes play the Musician Stage having won OBS. Other local bands playing at the festival included Maybeshewill, Dumbfound, Deap People, Free Control, Great Imitation, Megadub, Minnaars, Missing People and Out of Karma to name but a few.

Our pick of the gigs for 2009

20/10: Maybeshewill at the Firebug (nominated by readers.)

Saturday 16th October 2010.

The Y.
One big band from Leicester; one big live music event. That sums up the event at the Y Theatre today. Headlined by one of Leicester’s most successful bands, Maybeshewill and supported by a top class line up, this was a key event in the music calendar. Leicester now stands out nationally as being one of the most exciting cities in the country for live music of all kinds. This weekend will certainly earn a place in my review of 2010 and today’s concert at the Y was yet another date that can easily be set in the list of great gigs of the year. In a programme that started in the afternoon, act after act filled the elegant theatre hall with a variety of amazing live music, culminating in a spectacular finale by the unusual Maybeshewill. The day’s line up included acoustic singer Peter Wyeth and the progressive hardcore band Beunos Aires (I was mortified when I found I had arrived too late for their set) but happily, when I finally got there, the incredible These Furrows were on stage. They always amaze me when ever I hear them. The four member group includes Darryl Reid and Nile Barrow, whose voices blend exceedingly well together in certain of the songs where they share the vocal line. But what makes this band stand out is their razor sharp execution. In a set of intense songs, their taught music is full of exciting dynamics. Music shaped with expert craftsmanship, they presented a set full of thrilling sounds, bristling with crystalline clarity, sharp-edged instrumentals and distinctive vocals. With a high level of musical creativity, they delivered a dazzling set that crackled with static electricity. The evening attracted a fair sized crowd; mainly older people (I do too many kids shows I know), OK then 20-somethings and a smatter of band members, there to check over this important happening. It was good they chose The Y on a night with six other gigs going on. With a row of good front singers, Tellison put on a belting set of songs. Their set of sternly good, ear pleasing melodic songs went down well with the crowd. The London band delivered their vibrant set with energy and the music was full of solid music ideas, including the bit with the vigorously cow bells; in fact quite a few band members played percussion instruments. One big balladic song started slowly, building to a resounding finale. It was inspiring. The concert included an set of orchestral proportions from the astonishing band Her Name is Calla. Hailing partly from Leicester, they took a long time to get set up. As sound guy Ollie grappled with the large number of instruments being wired up and tuned in, I spotted a piano, violin, cello, bass, drums, flute, trombone and what looked like a laptop and bank of electrical gizmos. Even the cello has an effects pedal, so it was no surprise that it seemed to take a long age to get ready. More orchestra than band, their set of evocative pieces were symphonic in scale, with pieces lasting for up to 10 minutes or more. Songs began with long mood setting intros, creating atmospheric landscapes of music, before Thomas Corah comes in on the vocals, skilfully singing the vocal part in a rich and beautifully toned voice. These highly creative pieces were like Bruckner symphonies, structured into first and second subjects, building up slowly towards breathtaking climaxes. Serene, inspiring and magnificent layers of sound from the strings and wind sections with musicians often adding in layers of vocal backing when the dynamics of the piece required. This highly unusual but exhilarating music experience lacked any comparison within the Leicester circuit. The audience stood spell bound as the group unfolded one hypnotic, euphoric song after another. They created luscious, shimmering waves of sound and the effect was mesmerising.Even though at times, the volume of sound was more than was justified, tending to drown some of the instrumental layers, the whole set was a magical moment. I have since listened to their recordings and can see just how wonderful their work can be. Not the band of choice for most rock aficionados, but for those of us who go for the bigger picture, musically, this was a breath taking performance. In a complete change of style, &U&I from Birmingham store up the stage and created a mosh pit at the front of the floor. The trio includes, I’m told, members from the legendary Blakfish and they thundered out a storming set of kick-ass songs, led by vocalist Thom Peckitt. Having been on tour with Maybeshewill, they joined them at the last gig of their UK tour. Sound like a meeting of punk, screamo and metal their songs were full of force and energy, throwing themselves around the stage as they totally lived the music. Massively big sounds rocketing off the stage and a crew of guys in the front were going mad for it. An amazing set of ballsy numbers that grabbed the fans and set the room alight. The finale of the evening saw a stunning performance by Maybeshewill. Returning to their home town after an exhausting UK Tour, many fans have been looking forward for months to seeing them play here again. What was unique about this set was that it played instrumentally, no vocals at all. This is a rarity in the rock world, although one or two bands have reached considerable acclaim for this approach. The band was formed in 2005 by Robin Southby, James Collins and John Helps and has had a number of line up changed since then. In 2009 they were joined by ex-Kyte and Tired Irae musician Jamie Ward, who was on the bass tonight (and clearly had some personal fans in the audience.) The band introduced new material for their, as yet, unreleased third album as well as launching a new single. As an instrumental band, they delivered a superbly good set of fine ‘songs’, supremely enjoyable, so that you didn’t really notice the absence of vocals. The set included some programmed and sampled electronic elements, although these did not always stand out very much. A thoroughly engaging and enjoyable set; it was great to see such an unusual and talented band.

December 2010

Maybeshewill is the ArtsIn Band of the Month.

2011

Wednesday 4th May 2011.

Maybeshewill tour dates out. 20 solid days of Maybeshewill shows around the UK and Ireland in support of the release of their third album ‘I Was Here For A Moment, Then I Was Gone’. The album comes out on 30th May through Function Records, but will be available available from all the shows or in all good record stores and digital distributors from day of release.

Sunday 19th August 2012.

Summer Sundae Festival – day 3

Maybeshewill. Instrumental band Maybeshewill are legends in Leicestershire. This signed band is a thoroughbred from one of the city’s most prestigious stables. The quintet of top musicians have found a foothold on the wider stage of the music world with their albums of progressive post-rock songs. Having toured in Russia and Japan and supported Foals and This Will Destroy You, they have received attention from Kerrang and NME and are now firmly established as one of the iconic bands that have grown from saplings into the mighty forest that is Leicester’s music.

Review of the year.
Our pick of the gigs and festivals that made 2012 what is was.

22nd – Maybeshewill at the Y Theatre

One of Leicester’s top bands – After completing a European tour, the guys rounded the year off with a gig earlier on in December playing at their home city of Leicester.

[The above is taken from the forthcoming publication Leicester Gig Reviews – a compendium.]

See also:

Our night with the legendary band that is De Sade.

Our round-up of live music in April.

Our feature article on the bands of Leicester.