Desperate Journalist – Rough Trade, Liverpool (2/10/24)

As a regular concert goer I’m often asked who are the best kept secret in the UK music scene. Over the years my answer has changed, but since stumbling across them as openers for Suede last year, Desperate Journalist have been my go to answer. To mark the release of impressive fifth album No Hero a series of album launch parties were scheduled across the country, which felt like a good excuse for a day trip to Liverpool and a visit to the city’s recently opened branch of Rough Trade.

With no support act it was straight into the action with album opener Adah, Jo Bevan’s ethereal vocals and Rob Hardy’s intricate guitar lines interlocking perfectly, before the rest of the band joined in to take the song to new levels. Despite the absence of regular touring guitarist Charley Stone the way the layers of the song continued to build on top of them showcased the musicianship and strength of the band. From there it was straight into live favourite Why Are You So Boring, spat out with the venom the song’s infectious lyrics merit.

Following on it was a return to the new material with three of the strongest songs from No Hero (which I hope doesn’t imply that there are any weak songs). Afraid with the Johnny Greenwood-esque guitar lines taking greater precedent live, my personal favourite 7 showing a new leaning into more electronic flourishes before a guitar led version of You Say You’re Lonely managed to capture the tenderness of the piano based recorded version, but with additional bite. Each song taking what Desperate Journalist do so well but then evolving in new directions.

After a trip through the anthemic Cedars, title track No Hero continues the uplifting mood before exploding into its incendiary chorus. And whilst Unsympathetic Parts 1 & 2 may have felt like a slightly surprising choice of lead single, as a live song it acquired greater depth, the pounding drums and repeated vocals built to a staggering crescendo following in the footsteps of the likes of Hollow and Fault from previous albums. To finish the performance two more classics in the shape of Be Kind and a triumphant Satellite were rolled out. The fact that the new and old material meshed so well yet didn’t feel like a band repeating the same trick again says wonders for the quality of the new material.

At the post performance signing I asked the band to describe the new album in three words. “Best music ever” was the agreed response, which may sound slightly hyperbolical, but should an artist ever release they don’t believe is the greatest ever recorded? The shame for Desperate Journalist is that they feel like a band that should have existed twenty five years ago, a time when noir rock bands like Manic Street Preachers and Radiohead could release chart topping albums and become household names and when albums like No Hero would have been heralded as the slightly more achievable best music of the year. But for now they’re a shining light in the British music scene and five albums into their career are still going from strength to strength.

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Desperate Journalist play further UK dates in November 2024 and January 2025. Go and buy tickets to see them now!

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Desperate Journalist performed (and no, it’s not just an excuse to show off my signed set list!):