Athlete at Reading - gig review

Crowd-surfing was never going to be on the agenda at the Hexagon on Friday, writes Glenn Mitchell.

Athlete, the nice boys of indie pop, were in town as part of their latest tour.

But while label 'high octane' is unlikely to be slapped on the Deptford four-piece, they do know how to produce singles rich in melancholy.

Technically-accomplished, they had the crowd swaying happily to the poignant tunes of Wires and Beautiful.

You Got the Style, El Salvador, Half Light and Hurricane were also wheeled out to raise the tempo.

Their broad appeal also attracted a mixed crowd.
Trendy indie darlings were present to appreciate the finely-crafted songs, while in the balcony's comfy seats there was some uncoordinated clapping from infrequent gig-goers dressed in sensible leisurewear.

But Joel Pott and company provided enough quality to keep all present happy.

Chart domination may prove a bridge too far for Athlete, but don't bet against them producing another clutch of sweet-sounding singles you'll find yourself humming for days on end.