The first all-day event from Leeds’ fresh, new promotions company, I Found What I’ve Been Looking For, not only spoke for itself with its tempting post-punk line-up, but it offered respite from some unwelcome rainy weather. The den-esque Hyde Park Book Club was the gig venue of choice, where flashing yellow and red lights initially dressed the stage. 

Leeds-based post-punk five-piece Coal Mob opened proceedings at 3pm. They demonstrated a great mix in their repertoire, and every instrument had a place, with not one being drowned out. There were even some call-to-arms-style spoken word elements, which, in fact, many of the later outfits also harnessed. By the end, I’d surmised that my favourite bop was ‘Cowgirl’, though the fierce guitar solo and cheeky cowbell walloping on ‘The Great Dictator’ brought a noteworthy frenzy. 

Up next: Kiosk, a trio who pitched themselves as ‘post-lunch art-punk’. And you can bet that niche plastered grins across faces. Almost childlike creativity was fused with technically solid instrumental manipulation, and they used an SPD rather than a full drum kit, two-handed tapping on bass, and pedals to their experimental credit. The standout was ‘Tokyo’, for how it was as though Crystal Castles had joined forces with Gold Panda and brought in some guitars. And throughout their buoyant performance, they even found moments to snack on bananas. Healthy.

Naturally, there was a change in lights for Dim Imagery — complementary turquoises and oranges paved the way maximum oomph, and one of my favourite bands in Leeds right now rose to the front. Matt Bond — AKA puppeteer not only of the band but the whole IFWIBLF event — wowed with his commanding, prophet-style singing, and, as per, the five-piece’s considered, measured approach to their craft knocked collective socks off. Tambourine on the cymbal for added effect? Of course. Call-and-response playmaking between both guitarists? They do it so well. Every note and riff was refined, and you could tell they were well-rehearsed on top of the sharp ability exhibited. Forget short tunes; these men are the masters of the anthems that tick past the five-minute mark. That’s what makes them so enthralling to watch, time and time again — and also why ‘Fishing In An Empty Stream’ works as a set closer.

Accompanied by her full band, Yasmin Coe had made the trip to Leeds to serve up a helping of dreamy alt pop. It meant there was something of a softer middle section to the day, and you couldn’t help but drown in her husky qualities during verses that transformed into total vocal clarity in choruses. The shoegazy ‘Linen’ and ‘No Hope’ were a duo of especially fabulous tracks. 

Very otherworldly, in both sound and style, with pure green lights blaring behind them, was Bug Teeth. They had an atmospherically wavy, transcendent build-up to their set, and then the quintet — sporting matching knitted hats — really got going. The combo of angelic vocals and whimsical prog rock virtually hypnotised the audience. And bonus: they were even multi-skilled enough to swap drummer and a guitarist partway through for a song. Slick.

Purveyors of vibrant, surfy post-punk, Pop Vulture knew how to make the room bounce. There was an instantly playful conduct to their 45-minute slot, which they punctuated with token cowbells and maracas, frenetic riffs and thunderous drums, mostly in an off-key fashion. Their MO? Shrieked, spoken vocals split between three of the four of them, for a jaunty, conversational, not-sure-who-to-watch feel. All with a smidge of beneficial reverb, of course. So yet again, they were another electric example of a band that utilised each of their members on point.

The anthemic headliner, Legss, which most had made a day of it to stick around and see, delivered a darker, more mysterious sound. Amid lower lighting and a sweatier room, the four specialised between them in breathy vocals, stabbing yet dynamic drums and some tinkling percussion, alongside more transitional string-ringing elements. What a way to round things off.

All in all, it had been a sheer success for I Found What I’ve Been Looking For, so we can’t wait to hear about Vol. 2 news. But until then, free-entry gigs at Nation of Shopkeepers is very much on the agenda for this lot later in 2023. Watch this space.

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With thanks to Matt of I Found What I’ve Been Looking For for the press access.