At what was somewhat of a hometown gig for the band, at a venue they played many times in their early days, Deco gave an intimate performance of songs from their debut album Destination: I Don’t Know, as well as a handful of fan-favourites. We were at Rough Trade to listen in...
Deco's Rough Trade Nottingham gig had been rescheduled due to the album being delayed, and sadly, drummer Tom Reinholz was unable to make the new date as he was visiting family in Germany. But despite his absence, the band didn’t miss a beat, using a drum machine they humorously referred to as "Tom 2.0.”
The band joked that Tom 2.0 was more efficient than the real Tom, and certainly tidier in hotel rooms and dressing rooms. This light-hearted approach set the tone for the evening, which, despite the smaller venue, delivered the sound quality and theatrics of a much bigger show.
The set kicked off with I Love That Song, as silver lights flashed behind the band, followed by a crowd-pleasing cover of Bittersweet Symphony - a clever nod to their viral lockdown eighties covers. The energy from the start was electric, with the audience fully engaged.
Forever was up next, marking the first of many saxophone solos from Lucy Kendall that punctuated the night. Meanwhile, lead singer Max Kendall interacted warmly with the crowd between songs, commenting, “I can see into everyone’s eyes - it’s a bit weird,” embracing the intimacy of the venue.
The band then transitioned into Next to You, which Max revealed was written during a trip to Copenhagen, a cycling city where he narrowly avoided an accident while attempting to cycle alongside his girlfriend - a charming, personal anecdote that connected deeply with the audience.
Midway through the set, they slowed things down with Atmosphere, which bassist John Steele wrote about his ex-girlfriend who returned to her native country of Japan – and so they split up. Although he’d hoped for a reconciliation during a holiday they later took together, she revealed on the first night that she had a new boyfriend...
All four members present contributed vocals to the song, making it a standout moment of the night. Max assured us all that John has since found a new girlfriend, which warranted a cheer from the crowd.
At one point, Max asked the audience what their favourite song was, and fittingly, they responded with Photograph – the very track the band had planned to play next. The song, which focuses on capturing special moments, was made even more poignant by Max's remark that this was one of those moments.
Throughout the night, the band embraced spontaneity, answering audience questions like, “Where did your name come from?” (Answer: "It’s more than music, it’s a movement"), “How did you all meet?” (This was quite a long story), and whether they’d ever perform Wonderwall with Noel and Liam Gallagher. This sparked a playful idea for an 80s-style Oasis tribute band they dubbed “O-Eighties.” They also cited their biggest influences, including Tears for Fears and George Michael.
The interactive moments continued, including splitting the crowd for a sing-along moment during Everybody Wants to Be Somebody Else and a powerful, communal rendition of Rain, which had everyone repeating the intro before joining in with the rest of the song.
After the show, fans queued up to, as Max put it, “get their bits signed" – a moment quickly clarified by him, when he quipped “I mean vinyl.” He seemed keen to try stand-up comedy following this, but Lucy shot back, “Please don’t,” much to the audience’s amusement.
Before wrapping up, Deco made sure to mention their upcoming Rescue Rooms show, which is nearly sold-out, and where Tom will be re-joining them. With their album currently sitting at number 21 in the charts, they also cheekily reminded the crowd that it’s available on iTunes for just £4.99 right now, making it the perfect time to show your support and help them creep closer into the top twenty.
Deco performed at Rough Trade on 23rd September 2024. They return to Nottingham for a headline show at Rescue Rooms on 24th October. Read our recent interview with the band here.
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