IT'S OBVIOUS that something's about to kick off as dozens of people flock the Forum's floor. For an unsigned act, The Violet May need little pushing. Word of mouth and catchy tunes have brought the crowd here tonight, though they're not all here to see the group.
Adorning the Forum's walls and forming the backdrop to the stage are Tracey Welch's compelling photographs of pensive strangers and Sheffield's musical glitterati. It's a complementary battle, between the flashing of Welch's prints and frontman Chris
McClure, who, clad in a thick jacket and asymmetrical hair, dominates the stage.
The Violet May's set includes Brighter Better, 70s Born and Mothers Milk. The latter's an aggressive stormer, to which McClure prances round stage waving his mic stand while jibing guitarist Jono How.
There's little 'indie' about The Violet May, songs are drenched in thick, Queens of the Stone Age-like guitar and crashing drums.
McClure's vocals oscillate between a Seventies dream and The Fall's Mark E Smith's cryptic utterances.
The event's part of Wednesday Night Live, a Creative Sheffield-funded phenomenon aimed at prolonging summer evenings by putting on events between 6 and 9pm – giving every city worker the perfect excuse to stay out after work.
And tonight, on a hot summer night in a packed-out Forum, surrounded by rock and roll prints knocking out ballsy guitar, The Violet May officially kick off the summer.
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