Brother trio, Boyce Avenue are
the YouTube sensation who paved a way for their own hits by first posting
videos of cover songs. Millions of YouTube hits and a support slot alongside
One Direction later, Boyce Avenue
are back in the UK
and bigger than ever.
Est.1987 headed down
to Leeds O2 Academy to see what the Florida
three-piece had to offer.
Leeds Academy is bursting at the seams as the
crowd anticipates the on stage arrival of Boyce Avenue. They are the band that have
successfully re-invented so many well known songs; from Linkin Park
to Bruno Mars the Boyce Avenue
boys have worked to re-invigorate these familiar anthems. However, don’t be
fooled, the trio are not just a
covers band as tonight goes on to prove. Dramatic opening chords play out as
the three brothers, Alejandro,
Daniel and Fabian Manzano, joined by touring drummer Jason Burrows,
bound on stage. “Let me see those hands” shouts lead singer Alejandro and the
crowd are clapping straight away as the band burst into “Tonight”. One of
Boyce’s original songs, “Tonight” is the perfect example of their ability to
write anthemic pop-rock songs that are building and uplifting.
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| Alejandro on stage in Leeds |
On point with their harmonies and tight instrumentals Boyce Avenue dazzle
the crowd: own songs such as the infectious “Not Enough” and ballad “More
Things To Say” hold up amongst cover versions of well known pop songs. Of
course a Boyce Avenue
show would not be Boyce Avenue
show if there weren’t a few of their
famed covers thrown in for good measure and the boys did not disappoint. Katy
Perry’s “Teenage Dream” is set amidst an impressive medley of covers; One
Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful” merges effortlessly into Rihanna’s “We
Found Love” before neatly being capped off with Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite”.
Boyce Avenue are certainly not a band that could be called
predictable. The fact that the audience here tonight spans many generations is
testament to the music which they not only choose to cover but which they
themselves write. Boyce Avenue
show off their musical prowess, Alejandro taking to the piano on the emotional
“Broken Angel”.
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| Boyce Avenue at Leeds Academy |
“Find Me” (the first song Boyce Avenue ever wrote), sees the
set take a more laid back tone as the band sit down to acoustically serenade
the Academy. The band’s more melodic slower tracks attract as much enthusiasm
as the up-tempo driven numbers, the crowd singing each word back at the stage. Admitting
that the last time they played Leeds was at
the substantially smaller Cockpit venue, Boyce Avenue appreciate how far they have
come and thank the fans for supporting them. Heartfelt ballad “On My Way” slows
down the pace of the evening, showcasing what a dynamic band they actually are.
Showing their knowledge and passion for music an impressive version of Tracy
Champan’s “Fast Car” follows and is undoubtedly the favourite cover tonight as
the crowd universally sing line for line back to the trio on stage. Boyce Avenue are
engrossed in the music and deliver a fast paced, high energy set. However, they
don’t isolate the crowd and pull them in at every opportunity. When the band
aren’t getting the audience to sing along then they get right amongst them,
Alejandro leaping down within the front row.
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| Brothers Daniel and Fabian Manzano on stage in Leeds |
Just when the crowd fear that the evening may have finished,
Boyce Avenue
are back with an eclectic encore; Coldplay’s “Fix You” topped off with the
band’s original “Hear Me Now”.
It’s the perfect finale song with its grandeur
of melodies and layered harmonies with an epic quality; the faultlessly
infectious pop-rock song. Tonight Boyce Avenue
have proved just why they are more than a YouTube sensation.
http://boyceavenue.com/
Photo credit: Danny Peart Graphics
www.facebook.com/dannypeartgraphics
Brother trio, 
