STEELERS - LEEDS, OPORTO
Steelers: On the road to success
Written By Anisa Bhana.
On Thursday night, the Leeds-based reminiscent band ‘Steelers’ put on a breathtaking performance at the renowned Oporto, known for its intimate and lively music scene amongst local concert-goers of the city, following the release of their first EP ‘Good Things Will Happen Tonight’ which was released only a month ago, in June and has since been met with widely positive reviews.
Whilst the band are still newly established and haven’t been on the scene long with their debut single ‘The Part That Hurts The Most’ being released only last November, this hasn’t halted them from achieving many accomplishments in such little time,in which they have reached many milestones - such as a debut on the BBC, playing memorable venues around Leeds and supporting various artists which takes a lot of effort for most upcoming bands to achieve in much longer of periods of time. This accentuates the raw talent and drive that each member humbly possesses which moulds Steelers into much more than just a band, but rather a close-knit family that continuously supports one another to collectively make the band a success.
Upon entering the Oporto the atmosphere drastically changed, completely contrasting the sullen skies outside. A vibrancy not only filled the room, but the friends, family and fans of the band eager to watch them naturally shine on stage and do what they do best. Following the performances by the incredible support acts Will Schultz and Chud, the crowd was vivaciously buzzing with a liveliness that alone made the night one to remember as the anticipation for Steelers to take the stage gradually built up along with the emotions of endlessly proud family members.
The sold-out show and fully packed room accompanied by a glistening disco ball reflecting the dim ambience which visually guided the room, blared with the sounds of cheers as the band took to the stage with complete confidence and gratitude. Opening with their smashing song ‘Serious’ the room seemed as if it were moving as the crowd immediately matched the rhythm of the music, jumping and passionately shouting the lyrics back at the band with beer sticking to the floor. The frontman, Noah Clegg certainly knows and owns his role as his unmatched stage presence is quite unlike anything I have seen before, his constant interactiveness and movement across the stage (and even into the crowd) is one that belongs in sold-out arenas. His ability to relentlessly showcase his powerful vocals whilst jumping around and playing his instrument simultaneously is immensely impressive at such a young age.
Throughout the night - the band floated through the set in a hazy glow, playing fan-favourities ‘fast friends’, ‘wild and young’ and their beloved unreleased cathartic song; ‘drive’ (which in my mind, reigns supreme). The performances of guitarist Isaac Chinneck, bassist Abi Littlewood and drummer George Card acted as a triple shot of espresso as their incredible energy never ceased as they soaked in the moment, whilst reviving the 80’s rock sound that is embedded in their music with inspiration drawn from various icons of the notable decade that creates a unique, individualistic sound - unlike anything on the scene right now. Keyboardist - Austin Riley talentedly played with ease as his natural and flawless ability added to the ethereal performance of the band that resembles rockstar-like personas and presence. If there's one thing to take away from this showstopping performance - Steelers are in a league of their own and on the path to success with their unique sound, unwavering stage presence that turns a small room into a stadium and their ability to make their fan-base feel as if it is a community (that is certainly growing each day) as fans excitedly anticipate the release of new music.
You can listen to ‘Steelers’ brand new EP here.