At least that’s how it feels when you’re in the presence of Guy Garvey and the rest of Greater Manchester stalwarts Elbow, who with their backing ensemble delivered a fundamentally unforgettable show for the Leeds faithful. Maybe it was the sun, maybe it was covering the Leeds marathon earlier in the day or maybe it was knowing the quartet’s reputation for a glorious spectacle; but there was a feeling of inevitable joy upon heading to the First Direct Arena on Sunday evening.
You must be Leeds?” The rolling guttural groove of ‘Things I’ve Been Telling Myself For Years’ kicks in and Garvey comes gradually alive while delivering lines like “Here's to a doting mother's voice assisting me in every choice” with a gusto that marries the provincial relatability of Jarvis Cocker and the testimonial urgency of Nick Cave. Not that Garvey is commanding the spotlight though.