Vagabond, Leeds Cockpit

May 23rd 2009

The Cockpit is a well loved venue, and we are more than a little excited to be back for a visit. Tonight’s events are set in the small upstairs room; with low ceilings the room is dark, an air of anticipation and excitement in the air. The venue itself is like an aeroplane hangar, a corrugated arched ceiling that makes this place very individual, there’s no venue quite like it.

By 9.30pm the room is packed out, people eager to see tonight’s headline act, Vagabond. Though significantly new to the music scene they have racked up quite a following since they launched this year, having performed a string of one off intimate London performances. April saw them support chart success James Morrison on tour (a surprising combination) at larger venues including the Royal Albert Hall, which did a lot to help them get better and gain confidence on stage. They have attracted a lot of attention and have built quite a following as a result, now ready to assault the charts with their pop/rock/jazz/blues combo. 

If there is a band this year that should be given the title of most instantly addictive then it should be Vagabond without a doubt. The six piece London-based band take to the stage with ‘Don’t Wanna Run No More’, with instantly catchy melodies and a full energy fuelled enthusiastic performance that captures the crowd and grips their attention.

Second track ‘I Know A Girl’ sees lead singer Alex Vargas put down his guitar for a full on vocal performance for this jazz twisted number. The energy and charisma he expels live on stage is admirable. He owns the crowd, with vocals that are spot on, a raw talent that would breathe a breath of fresh air into our sometimes monotone charts. The song builds for a chorus that is simple and the crowd can join in with. The whole room is moving; there is not a foot in the room that isn’t tapping. “Ah-ha remember my name, ah-ha you love me”, well yes in fact. Yes we do.

Debut single release ‘Sweat (Until The Morning)’ ups the temperature in the room to above a hundred as pulses are set racing. “Late at night I come around/you give smiles and we get down”. A track that combines strings and a jazz infested bass line, a surefire hit of a debut single. There is not a person under this roof that is not under their spell right now. With vocals that allow Vargas to demonstrate his sultry side and his all out belting vocal capacity, it has certainly become a crowd favourite.

Tonight we are treated to some new album tracks that prove there is a lot to look forward to from this band. Each one is catchy and keep sthe crowd interested, a perfect recipe tonight of fan favourites and new tracks to tickle the taste buds.

The climax of the set arrives in the form of crowd pleaser ‘I’ve Been Wanting You’, with its “Wooooooooahh”  choruses that ooze energy and feel good vibes. We just cannot get enough of this track and by the crowd reaction tonight neither can they. The crowd is well and truly under the spell of Vargas and he is thriving from the attention, giving one of his best performances to date. The song progresses, continuing to build and there is not one person in the room tonight who isn’t dancing.

The set ends with an unbelievable crowd reaction, chants of “more, more, more!” Vagabond, clearly overwhelmed with this reaction take to the stage for an unprepared encore, which is richly deserved. Our only fear is that a band like this could gain such popularity that it would be easy for them to lose their way and simply become a commercial money making machine. They have the X factor that many bands crave, and their sound is individual and instantaneous. What is important is that they stay true to themselves and their sound.

If you are looking for a new band to lose your heart to then you’ve found it - here’s Vagabond. The debut single ‘Sweat (Until The Morning)’ is available to download now.