Los Campesinos played Paradise Rock Club – 6/16

Wales’ Los Campesinos returned to Boston shores earlier this month with a Father’s Day Paradise gig supported by Short Fictions.

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Welsh collective Los Campesinos have always boasted something of a cult following, something that’s evident the moment you step into one of their gleeful, cathartic live shows. The band’s irresistibly catchy surveys of personal and romantic strife practically beg to be shouted right back at them, and they’ve garnered a loyal fanbase to do just that over their nearly two decades together.

I’ve long been an admirer, but hadn’t caught the band live for one reason or another since another show at the Paradise back in January 0f 2014. That they pulled an even more enthusiastic crowd a decade later isn’t so shocking in itself, but that such a large percentage bore X’d hands and the occasional parent chaperone was a twist. I wondered how many veteran punk bands were regaining members deep into their career in writing up The Damned earlier this month; similarly, I have to ponder, how many long-running indie-pop bands are bringing in droves of young new fans in the leadup to releasing their 7th LP? Such is the Campesinos magic.

The band are indeed gearing up for their first new record in 7 years, July’s All Hell, and previewed a handful of promising new tracks across their 90-minute Sunday night set at the ‘Dise. The majority of the night, though, was dedicated to an overview of the band’s best-loved bangers, which the crowd ate up with fervent enthusiasm. With spirited lead singer Gareth Paisey at the helm, the septet sounded off with a full-throated roar and put some characteristic muscle behind the songs. A fun night and a good reminder to not wait another 10 years to catch them next time.

Check out photos from the evening, including Pittsburgh’s Short Fictions in the opening slot, below.