The Maccabees @ Barrowland, 15 Jan

In the same week that the world lost modern music’s most original icon, playing Bowie’s greatest hits as your pre-show intro music is a guaranteed way to win over a misty-eyed crowd. Not that The Maccabees need to butter anyone up – the mighty Barrowland Ballroom is straining to contain a sold-out Friday night audience of enthusiasts eager to put on their red shoes and dance the blues.

Swelled in size in order to accommodate the piano, brass and percussion that made 2012’s Given To The Wild so impressively ambitious, the London outfit are never in danger of disappointing tonight. Led by Orlando Weeks’ heavenwards vocals, the group charge through an (almost) faultless display of sound and spectacle.

Not a band to shy away from their stadium ambitions, The Maccabees do everything large, even their rare slip-ups – the delicate Feel To Follow is unfortunately dismembered by a horrifically bottomed-out bass, but the majority of the crowd remain blissfully unconcerned. Elsewhere, though, it’s a consummate show that brings to life of sizeable chunk of this year’s expansive Marks To Prove It whilst also taking a satisfying survey of The Maccabees' back catalogue.  

Kamakura and Ribbon Road exemplify the new record’s voluminous scope, the latter sounding particularly cavernous with its resounding Wild Beasts-esque percussion, while Silence is a well-placed pause that allows guitarist Hugo White to take up vocal duties. Dawn Chorus is the sing-along favourite, complete with trumpet reverie, and the band also treat long-time fans to generous serving of their near-decade old debut Colour It In (twee Toothpaste Kisses is comically well-received). From the flash and bravado that accompanies wire-taught set opener Marks To Prove It; to the triumphant closer Pelican, it’s atmospheric indie rock done right, proving that in The Maccabees' hands, ‘anthemic’ doesn’t have to be a dirty word.