Strong openers
The opening spot on the NME Tour has gained something of a reputation for being the springboard to stardom, mainly because in previous years the likes of Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs and Franz Ferdinand have occupied it. For this reason there always seems to be added attention focused on the band that has the honour of kicking off each night and in 2007 that task has been given to Mumm-Ra.
It was no surprise that the venue wasn't packed out when Mumm-Ra took to the stage before half seven but they went down well with what was approximately 60 per cent capacity and did seem pleased with the turn out they got. Their debut album isn't out until May which meant a number of those in the crowd wouldn't have been familiar with some of the set, however Mumm-Ra can be encouraged by the reaction ahead of their LP's release.
Having seen them play smaller venues like the Camden Barfly the sound in Brixton Academy which is often far from perfect especially for support or opening bands meant it was tricky to get a full appreciation of the quality of Mumm-Ra's music. New single 'What Would Steve Do' went down well but the highlight of the set was final track 'Out Of The Question' which saw them joined by The View's Kyle Falconer on guitar and backing vocals. For me this is a single that was much overlooked when it came out and should get a re-release so it can become the smash it deserves to be.
Mumm-Ra will certainly be on the festival trail this summer, have a UK tour lined up for May and will appear at Camden Crawl and Great Escape around the time of the album's release. Their melodic style of alternative rock has a broad mass appeal and not wishing to pile on the pressure but there's every chance this band can follow on the footsteps of previous NME Tour openers and climb the ladder of fame.