Birmingham boys Peace have made it big. Their debut EP Delicious gave substance to the rising B-town scene, with Peace becoming its representatives. The band consists of brothers Harry and Samuel Koisser, on vocals and bass, with Douglas Castle on guitar and Dominic Boyce on drums.
In Newcastle’s cosy, off-beat venue The Cluny, the boys certainly stuck the right notes, with the crowd’s energy revealed just how popular Peace have become. The boys have been compared by critics so far to acclaimed bands Wu Lyf, The Maccabees as well as Vampire Weekend.
Opening with single ‘Wraith’, the song was met with cheers – the crowd mouthing every word back to the stage. The song’s distinctive guitar riff playing off the smooth rhythm, with lead singer Harry’s mystifying refrain, “you could be my ice-age sugar” completing a perfect live performance.
The boys play through their new album In Love (“the best album we ever made”) with confidence and charisma that even some of the most established bands would find difficult to match.
This is a band that couldn’t be more comfortable with what and who they are. For a scene that’s sprung out of nowhere (well, Birmingham obviously), the public have grabbed hold and not let go of this wonderfully charming foursome.
One of the most refreshing things about this band is their ability to traverse multiple styles of song. Their catalogue runs from the primal ‘Follow Baby’ to the hedonistic indulgences of ‘1998’.
“If you’re not happy wearing denim, you’re the devil in disguise” sings Harry as a fan hurls a Newcastle United shirt onto stage, Doug happily adorns; paired with his jeans, of course. A sense of fun is one of the cornerstones of B-town, and Peace don’t disappoint. A gig steeped in energy with that illusive ‘buzz’ roaming the atmosphere. The band have proved that they are fun loving, great songwriters who are anything but peaceful.