NORTH-EAST fivesome Maximo Park kicked off a UK tour with two sellout dates in their hometown, and the Newcastle fans surely got everything they wanted from the band.

Launching straight into top hit Our Velocity, they were greeted like the saviours of indie-rock, and singer Paul Smith was in fine fettle throughout, mixing wiry angular dance moves, with speaker climbing skills, while wearing, of course, his signature trilby hat like a crown.

Throughout the lengthy set the crowd didn’t miss a beat, and carried on dancing like there was no tomorrow.

Powering their way through a mixture of tracks from their three albums, Maximo Park excited the audience with Nose Bleed, Let’s Get Clinical and new single The Kids Are Sick, from Quicken The Heart.

Throughout, the band created an electric atmosphere and engaged in friendly banter with the audience, who responded with traditional Geordie chants.

Returning to the stage among cries of “Maximo”, the band gave a flawless encore, finishing with Limassol, before promising to be back later on in the year.

For a band that has achieved so much, Maximo Park are constantly pushing onwards and upwards, darting off in new directions and exploring new dimensions of their sound, and their new album was a fine way to kick-start what is sure to be an extraordinary new step in their already dazzling career.

Sophie Stratford