REVIEW: Vant, The Loft, Southampton

INDIE-PUNK rock band VANT warmed up for their huge main stage appearances at Reading and Leeds Festivals at a cracking show in Southampton.

Frontman Mattie Vant, bassist Billy Morris, lead guitarist Henry Eastham and drummer David Green electrified The Loft on Lower Banister Street three days before they join headliners Muse, Liam Gallagher, Eminen and Kasabian at Leeds on Friday and Reading on Sunday.

The band brought their defiant lyrics and punchy indie-grunge beats to an intimate low-ceiling setting that couldn’t be more different to what they’ll experience at the weekend.

“It’s nice to be back in a venue. Is everyone with us?” said Mattie, acknowledging the band’s return inside after months on the road at summer festivals in Europe and America.

It was soon clear that their Southampton fans, many of whom will have seen the lads supporting You Me At Six at The Guildhall last year, are as lively and raucous as anyone else in the world, even in The Loft’s humid-high summer atmosphere.

Singles Peace & Love, Fly-By Alien, Karma Seeker and Do You Know Me? from debut album Dumb Blood thrilled the packed crowd. The Radio One favourites raced through a mammoth seventeen song set and looked more than ready for what the next few days will bring.

Earlier, Southampton band Kicks - Taylor Hopper, Jamie Baigent, Paddy McCarthy, Joe McGuinness and Nathan Lyons – played their biggest gig so far, two days before they collect their GCSE results. Together with Isle of Wight trio Freazy, both support bands drew big early crowds.

Richard Derbyshire