January 19, 2007 9:38

Maximo Park play intimate homecoming gig

Paul Smith's men preview new album at tiny Newcastle venue

Photo Gallery: Maximo Park

Maximo Park returned to the venue where they started out last night (January 18) to showcase their forthcoming Gil Norton-produced second album.

The band played the opening night of three intimate homecoming gigs over three days in Newcastle's tiny Head Of Steam venue, supported by art-rockers Les Cox (Sportifs).

Playing a 90 minute set packed full of new material and laced with a smattering of fan favourites, Maximo Park debuted their second album in its entirety.

Speaking to NME.COM after the gig, Smith said: "We started here, tried our songs out here and found out which ones worked and which didn't. These venues are pretty special to us – the Head Of Steam is literally where we had our first ever gig – and it made sense to do that again with the new stuff."

As well as returning to old haunts, the night saw Smith, forced to stand on a beer crate throughout to see, squeeze back into the first suit he sported in the band, a task apparently made all the more difficult by "too many mince pies".

Maximo Park played:

'Girls Who Play Guitars'
'Fortnight (5x5=25)'
'Kiss You Better'
'Russian Literature'
'Our Velocity'
'The Coast Is Always Changing'
'Karaoke'
'Distance Makes'
'By The Monument'
'Books From Boxes'
'Your Urge'
'Apply Some Pressure'
'Nosebleed'
'Parisian'
'Going Missing'
'The Unshockable'
'Sandblasted And Set Free'
'Limassol'

The band now continue their trio of Newcastle gigs at The Cumberland Arms tonight (January 19) with support from B>E>A>K, before concluding tomorrow (20) at The Cluny supported by Smith's former MeandtheTwins bandmates [b]Chippewa Falls[/n].