It's hard to believe that 'Hats Off To The Buskers' is already ten years old. It could be because every track still sounds as relevant as the day it was committed to wax, or it could simply be the fact that The View have remained so prolific that the passage of time hasn't been as noticeable as with other, more sporadic, bands.
Tonight, The Ruby Lounge is packed to the rafters with fans who have clearly been making the most of a weekend show to drink to the health of the birthday album. The second the support act have finished, the chant of "The View are on fire" is taken up and it barely falters for the half hour it takes for the band to prepare and take the stage. When they do arrive, the crowd immediately launch themselves into each other and don't let up until the dying notes creep from the PA.
The unusual thing about recent anniversary tours is the 2000's tendency to top-load albums with the hit singles. As such, 'Superstar Tradesman' and 'Same Jeans', two songs which would usually form part of the climax to a View live set, are actually aired within the first three tracks tonight. Their early appearance, in keeping with the 'album in full' promise, lights a rocket under the arse of the entire venue. Thankfully, 'Hats Off To The Buskers' is strong enough to cope with two huge singles being unleashed in the opening ten minutes.
The run of 'Face For The Radio', 'Wasted Little DJs' and 'Gran's For Tea' is a particular highlight, which showcases the versatility of The View's sound. As usual, between-song-chatter is kept to a minimum, as the band prioritise hurtling through their accumulated material. Album closer 'Typical Time' may be incredibly brief, but it's still long enough for frontman Kyle Falconer to have his microphone kicked straight into his face by an errant, and badly timed, crowdsurfer.
Despite this, literal, blow at the end of the album, the band returned for an encore lengthier than other band's main sets. Ripping through material from all of their other albums, The View highlighted the fact that they refuse to rest on their laurels. While their mainstream media coverage may have tailed off since their debut album was released, their creativity continues to impress. Tracks like 'Grace' and '5Rebeccas' are just as deserving of the spotlight as any material from 'Hats Off To The Buskers'. That being said, their debut album remains a hard-hitting snapshot of a young band taking on the world. The View are on fire. Still, all this time later.
The unusual thing about recent anniversary tours is the 2000's tendency to top-load albums with the hit singles. As such, 'Superstar Tradesman' and 'Same Jeans', two songs which would usually form part of the climax to a View live set, are actually aired within the first three tracks tonight. Their early appearance, in keeping with the 'album in full' promise, lights a rocket under the arse of the entire venue. Thankfully, 'Hats Off To The Buskers' is strong enough to cope with two huge singles being unleashed in the opening ten minutes.
The run of 'Face For The Radio', 'Wasted Little DJs' and 'Gran's For Tea' is a particular highlight, which showcases the versatility of The View's sound. As usual, between-song-chatter is kept to a minimum, as the band prioritise hurtling through their accumulated material. Album closer 'Typical Time' may be incredibly brief, but it's still long enough for frontman Kyle Falconer to have his microphone kicked straight into his face by an errant, and badly timed, crowdsurfer.
Despite this, literal, blow at the end of the album, the band returned for an encore lengthier than other band's main sets. Ripping through material from all of their other albums, The View highlighted the fact that they refuse to rest on their laurels. While their mainstream media coverage may have tailed off since their debut album was released, their creativity continues to impress. Tracks like 'Grace' and '5Rebeccas' are just as deserving of the spotlight as any material from 'Hats Off To The Buskers'. That being said, their debut album remains a hard-hitting snapshot of a young band taking on the world. The View are on fire. Still, all this time later.
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