Thursday 1st April, 2010 – Review by Alexa Prinno

It was the beginning of the Easter long weekend, and the atmosphere at Amplifier Bar was already thriving long before main act HARLEQUIN LEAGUE was due to grace the stage. Instead the band soaked up the atmosphere and mingled with the crowd whilst the line outside continued to stretch down towards Murray Street.

Whether its was the pending long weekend, or the fact that Harlequin League had finally begun to setup on stage, the anticipation in the air was thick and contagious. Within moments the surrounding crowd was butting out cigarettes, and people were staking claim to places closest to the stage.

Once the boys started playing, there was a noticeable change almost instantly for anyone who had seen them play before.  Whereas previously the energy on stage was one so intense it was almost overpowering, there seemed to be a new – if only subtle – level of sophistication.  Although unexpected, the response from the crowd was promising.  Perhaps this added quality was down to the newest member of the band, drummer Chris James.  Either that, or the members’ new haircuts had magical powers.

As the band arrived at its fourth song, and crowd favourite ‘Living The Lie’, those closest to stage had started to step back away from the amps, which were without a doubt far too loud.  The venue should have been handing out complimentary ear plugs along with its generous doses of tinnitus.  Yet despite the discomfort of those up front, the majority of the room seemed unfazed. The set continued smoothly, blending one song into the next, with a familiarity that only a local band like Harlequin League would know, having played at Amplifier an impressive number of times.

It wasn’t until later into the set when the band took a slight pause, and the presence of the extra guitar on stage made sense.  Organist Ben Pooley was to showcase some new skills for one of the group’s  newest songs ‘1990′. Although unexpected, the performance wasn’t a disaster. On the contrary, it seemed to add a much welcome diversity to the band’s overall set.

Once that set had finished and the majority of the crowd headed back outside to light up, there was nothing left for the band to do but bask in the success of the night, and the attention of its female fans.  Some of which, hopefully won’t go deaf in exchange for their loyalty.