Tuesday 20/09/05 Alfie @ Life Cafe, Manchester

If Alfie’s devoted following in Manchester (which, incidentally, features inebriated members of Elbow) could be replicated around the country, then their tag of underachieving lo-fi slackers could be removed forever. As it is, the majority of people seem to remain true to the saying ‘first impressions last’. For most people, their first look at Alfie would have been the acoustic, seemingly lazy, "we’ll sit down cos we can’t be arsed to stand up" incarnation of the band that failed to wow audiences in 2001. Now, judging by record sales, not a great deal of people has been won back.

 

But, as Gigwise discovers tonight, first impressions can be wrong. Or, more accurately in Alfie’s case, first impressions are right until the band go and make two albums of semi- psychedelic marvel that makes you wonder why they set out acting like aloof student stoners. Still, we should be thankful they got their act together, because tonight Alfie are wonderful. The opening whammy of new single ‘Your Own Religion’, and earlier gems ‘People’ and ‘You Make No Bones’ immediately indicates how far Alfie have come. No longer do they seem like they would rather be in their bedroom than on stage, and the songs are given an extra edge and purpose. Singer Lee Gorton, often criticised for being Ian Brown-lite, has also come into his own, grooving and his way through the set with a new found confidence.

 

But it’s the middle section of the gig that relies on new album ‘Crying at Teatime’ that is most impressive. The title track, ‘Til the End’ and ‘All too Heavy’ all perfectly demonstrate the shift in Alfie’s songwriting over the years. Complex, intricate tunes that build to a climax, the're played with the aplomb of a band who have realised they have found their niche. The locals who have been there from the start are won over - even they, if they are honest, could not envisage Alfie becoming the band that they are today. Cynics should probably give them another chance to make a proper impression.