Gig review: The Twang at The Wardrobe, Leeds

The Twang gigs are usually raucous affairs, but Sunday’s intimate show in Leeds was rather more tranquil.

Not that it was any less enjoyable from the brilliant Birmingham indie-rockers whose music continues to attract a loyal following from far and wide.

Phil Etheridge and his pals played an unplugged set at The Wardrobe which featured some of The Twang’s greatest hits.

The gig sold out weeks in advance and Etheridge and his three fellow band members sat on chairs on the stage, with audience members also afforded seats, giving the evening a pleasantly relaxed feel.

There was a good buzz around town, with Leeds United having beaten Millwall on Sunday afternoon to go top of the Championship for the first time this season.

Astoria, a five-piece rock ’n’ roll band from Leeds, provided the support act and warmed their home crowd up nicely before The Twang took centre stage.

Etheridge is a superb frontman and clearly loves what he does, but it is his ability to connect with fans which makes The Twang’s gigs so special.

They kick off with Barney Rubble and run through a nostalgic back catalogue of their most popular hits.

A superb setlist includes the rousing Wide Awake and other classics such as Either Way, Two Lovers and Took The Fun.

Their customary cover of Van Bran 3000’s Drinking In L.A is also lapped up by the adoring crowd while some newer tracks from 2019’s If Confronted Just Go Mad, get an airing.

The Twang are no strangers to Leeds, having played in the city on many occasions since their breakthrough in 2007.

Etheridge and bassist Jon Watkin had a brief spell at university in Leeds and, typically, they went down a storm with the Yorkshire crowd.

The Twang have never had it easy – over a decade ago they sacked their drummer for allegedly stealing from them – yet their sheer love for what they do has kept them going and they continue to let their music do the talking.