Tuesday 11/01/05 Colour Of Fire, New Legends @ The Cockpit, Leeds

Colour Of Fire decided to kick-off 2005 with a close-to-home coming show, an opportunity for fans to and the band to test out some new songs and enjoy their old ones.  Thanks to the brilliance of the British rail system, Gigwise boards three trains before finally arriving in Leeds, and as a result misses the first support band Ten Seconds Of Chaos.  Oops.  New Legends more than make up for them though, with a set that’s full of catchy riffs and full-on rock.  Having had decent radio exposure and a slot at last year’s Leeds Festival, it may well be worth keeping an eye on them. 

A rapturous applause greets the headliners Colour Of Fire, it seems the quartet from York have been accompanied down the road by a few friends.  Not long into opener ‘The Exile’ sound problems occur, and unfortunately it won’t be for the last time tonight, which is a shame when there are songs as good as ‘Italics’ and ‘Robot Rocks’.  Owen Richards’ powerful voice is in fine form, but he gets annoyed with an unresponsive audience, which perhaps prompt crunching performances of ‘A Couple Of Reasons’ and ‘Second Class Citizen’.  ‘Jennifer’ is a powerballad with passion, and allows Stuart Jones to show he is also capable on lead vocals.

The new material showcased hints that perhaps the band are developing their sound into something more intelligent; songs such as ‘Amy Ray’ are not as instantly infectious as the material on the ‘Pearl Necklace’ record.  The second half of the set is weaker, with the more energetic songs having been disposed, though Richards’ falsetto on ‘The Company Won’t Colour Me’ proves to be a highlight.  However they close the set with ‘**** Work, Let’s Party’ that, as the title may suggest, is a riot that means Colour Of Fire end as they began.  If you get the opportunity to see this band, take it – and likewise for New Legends.  Just don’t use the trains to get there.