Leicester band Satellite Empire at The Music Cafe
Friday 21st September
Photos: Phil Vernon and Trevor Locke
Satellite Empire’s first anniversary show at the Music Café
A good night of live music; well-organised and well attended, it was clear that a lot of hard work and planning had gone into making this the successful event that it was. A consistent line-up of acts – all the bands were good – gave the audience an enjoyable time at The Music Café.
Having formed in 2012, Leicester band Satellite Empire used their first anniversary as a band to put on a show at The Music Café.
The show was opened by pop rockers Strike Up The Colours. These masters of melody are one of of Leicester’s best producers of memorable songs. Every one of their songs is a real cracker. Dance-laden tunes that really make you want to get up and party are what you get and, I have to say, I really do like what they do – it’s fun, it’s enjoyable and it’s musically impressive.
Follow Strike Up The Colours on Facebook.
Eden Avenue have made their mark on Leicester’s music scene. Having formed in 2008 (under the name Vengeance) they soon found themselves in demand at festivals and auspicious gigs. The band’s set tonight showed that Eden Avenue has a set of brilliant songs that bring together richly listenable tunes with a hard-edged rhythms and sounds. Blessed with an enthusiastic following and a group of technically sound musicians, including the strong voice of lead vocalist Rebecca Maurice, they are a high ranking band with the ability to deliver consistently great performances.
Follow Eden Avenue on Facebook.
A band that is relatively new but working hard to get themselves known, Black Mesa has attracted comparisons with Radiohead and My Chemical Romance. A band with ambition and a sense of how to make it up the ladder, Black Mesa delivered another creditable performance tonight. Their brand of hard rock is vibrant and compelling and it looks like they will be going a long way.
Even from the very first bars of Satellite Empire’s first song, you knew that it was going to be good. They caught the mood of the evening by opening with one of their strongest songs Don’t get Me Wrong. SE is blessed with one of the top female band vocalists in Leicester; Liv Armon was featured in the 2013 Singers of Distinction shows where she delivered a solo set; we commented Armon’s finely toned voice was a joy to listen too and she sang with plenty of expression.
As a band, Satellite Empire has got it sorted – they have a group of fine musicians, an outstanding lead singer and a set of songs that are well written and highly likeable. Olly Stabler is the guitarist, Ben Parker the drummer and tonight they had a guest appearance by bassist Jack Baines for some of the songs (Liv also plays bass in the band.)
Apart from playing music, the band members worked hard to get the audience involved in the show, knowing the need to pull it off visually as well as musically. If the music is good, there has to be a degree of stage presence to go with it and SE went at it with passion and exuberance.
Satellite Empire played some of their old songs, such as Withdrawal Symptoms and a new song Burning Down; they also played Fighter by Christina Aguilera and an acoustic cover Blue Jean by Lana Del Rey.
The crowd packing the front of stage area tonight was a testament to the success of Satellite Empire, their good music and their popularity. With all the boxes ticked and everything falling into place, let us hope that when we get to the band’s second anniversary they have made it to the big time.
Read the review on Arts in Leicester of Satellite Empire’s EP
Read more about Satellite Empire
Download free songs from Satellite Empire from their web site
Listen to Satellite Empire on Soundcloud
