Day Sleeper: An Emerging Leith Band Worth Following

Day Sleeper performed at The Attic in Leeds on Wednesday, supported by Leeds-based Cherry Seraph and Lines of Flight.

For my first visit to The Attic in Leeds, this was a thoroughly enjoyable couple of hours to bring a long mid-week day to an end. The opening support act was the soloist Cherry Seraph, and she opened the night with a lovely ethereal atmosphere. I only arrived to see the very end of the set, but this was long enough to get a sense of the interesting sounds they were capable of producing. Laying gentle vocal phrases over curated tracks, this was a good introduction to a night which featured appropriate keyboard and synth throughout. 

Cherry Seraph

The second support was the local band, Lines of Flight, formed in 2020. They effectively carried the evening forwards by building upon prolonged synthesised sections with drums, bass, and vocals. In fact, a strong 80s feel was developed with synth alongside prevalent bass lines, varied vocal effects for the male and female singers, and deeper repeated phrases (like “I never wanted it, / I never wanted it, / I never wanted it to come to this,” in celio falls). Such a feeling was only highlighted by the unashamed wearing of sunglasses in a dark warehouse by the drummer and male lead singer. I have already commented on effective variation in vocal effects, but variation in energy and tone helped to shape the 40 minute or so set. Although I was initially concerned my ears would come in for a hammering, a very heavy rock opening and close helped sandwich everything either side of a central, more mellow song. 

Lines of Flight

Day Sleeper were a great main act, and not to take anything away from the ground laid out by the support, they stood out. The incredible depth of the towering lead singer and powerful drumming struck me in particular, but most importantly neither became overbearing (this is something I have seen happen at other gigs where the sound levels are not under control). The band built well into their set, opening with Post Hope, which starts with an atmospheric synthesised soundscape and then sees the vocalist come in. A strong drum beat emerges shortly after this, followed by the other musicians coming in more prominently on the guitar, keyboard and saxophone. As ever it was great to see that the musicians were clearly into what they were doing and the lead singer's engagement with the audience was commendable considering the undeservedly poor turn out (likely a result of the 30 degree heat). Combining a few personal stories and banter with confident stage presence around the space available, he did as much as could have been asked of him. 

Day Sleeper

The positive energy the band gave the audience carried right up to the finale, where they played Speed of Tragedy, the opening single on their most recent EP, This House Won’t Fold. This was a fabulously appropriate way of bringing the set to an end as it saw much unity of instrumentation at its climax. Moreover, the drumming talent I have already referred to was especially notable here, as right from the start the beat was confidently driven and impressive cross-hand drumstick skills were demonstrated. I could talk for too long about the other songs I enjoyed, including Alabaster and Shorthand, but in summary this band, only formed in 2023, are certainly worth following to see where they go next.