Maybeshewill
Supporting ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead tonight are Leicester born instrumental band Maybeshewill. Both criticised and applauded for sounding much like post-rock band 65daysofstatic the band has changed a lot since its inception. These changes have seen them improve the quality of their live performances. One such improvement is former Tired Irie member Jamie Ward. He jumps and jolts about the stage on bass (now complete with four strings) and assisted the band in their bid to be self-sufficient by producing their latest offering I Was here For A Moment, Then I Was Gone.
They kick off with the start of this record and Opening flows seamlessly into Take This To Heart just as they do on the album. It is at this point that I realise that hidden behind Manchester's Club Academy's badly placed pillar a new 5th member is concealed. This is Matthew Daly who adds live keyboards to the band. This is something that had previously been the job of a backing track. Which always seemed bizarre for the clean piano parts. This could have been argued as disappointing on the medium sized stages they shared on tour with Earthtone9 compared to when it might have been more permissible, practical and financially viable playing the toilet circuit on tour with &U&I. They still utilise backing tracks in their set but now they have less on them.
The subtle double bass peddle kicks James Collins put in occasionally on the nasty metal parts from songs they play off their first two fine records are well executed. They also draw my attention to the beautiful artwork on his bass drum: a butterfly catcher helplessly looking up to the sky as his partner is carried away amongst a swarm of butterflies. This creature crops up in all their artwork and it seems well suited to a band who display beautiful and epic guitar tapping which sounds like magical fairies. To The Skies, From A Hillside encapsulates what they do well, and includes all the elements of Maybeshewill; it includes piano, guitar tapping, fast picked Explosions In The Sky style guitar, makes use of unconventional timings, and a glitchy backing track. However final song, Not For Want Of Trying remains their defining moment and still sends shivers down the spine.