Leeds indie band, English Teacher, raised the roof this Thursday and it’s clear to see why
they are fast becoming known as the band to watch. Alongside the release of their latest
album last month, ‘This Could Be Texas’, they have also sold out every show of this UK tour.
We were lucky enough to capture their show at the Wedgewood Rooms in Portsmouth and
what a night it was!
Gladboy, the opening band of the evening, delivered a captivating performance which fused
various musical genres and styles. Post-punk, grunge, country and psychedelic rock all made
an appearance in their thirty-minute set, keeping the audience on their toes.
Fronted by George Orton (lead singer), the majority of their songs were performed by him.
However, a few of their tracks were led by their talented female vocalist which brought
another layer to their already interesting sound. Their confidence seemed to grow with each
song and their performance perfectly readied the crowd for the headline act.
Gladboy
By this point in the evening, the room was packed and ready to go, and English Teacher did
not disappoint as they lead us on a journey through their latest album.
As they stepped onto the stage, greeted by applause, the venue was bathed in a hazy glow.
The opening chords of ‘Albert Road’, the closing track from their latest album set a flawless
tone for the evening. The slow, airy start of the song mirrored the serene atmosphere on
stage before the lights grew brighter and the band got louder before the final crescendo of
the song.
Before beginning their next song, the band took the opportunity to thank the audience for
coming along, asking who had attended their last gig at the Wedgewood Rooms when they
had played in the smaller room (Edge of the Wedge). A few hands shot up, much to the
band’s surprise.
Having only formed in 2020, it is amazing to see the band already filling the larger room at
this venue. The band have been very vocal in recent months about how thankful they are of
grassroots venues for giving them a platform. This evening is a testament to how important
smaller venues are in helping a band to grow.
One of the highlights of the night was when English Teacher performed the fan-favourite
‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’. The political and thought-provoking lyrics got many
audience members singing along and dancing to the music.
Ending the night, the band treated the crowd to a beautiful rendition of LCD Soundsystem’s
‘New York, I Love You but You’re Bringing Me Down’. As the lead vocalist poured her heart
into the lyrics, making for an emotional end to the evening.
In conclusion, English Teacher’s live performance was nothing short of extraordinary. Their
confidence on stage and their ability to engage the audience throughout the entire set was
truly remarkable. They left the crowd craving for more and proved themselves to be a band
to watch out for.
