ROCK AND ROLL THERAPY: LEAP BROUGHT THEIR ENERGIES BACK TO SALZBURG

By Theresa Galavics.

After their successful show at Salzburg’s Rockhouse last year, the self proclaimed “indie rock sad boys” of LEAP returned on May 22nd to celebrate the release of their third EP ‘The Downfall’ as part of their biggest tour to date.

The evening was kicked off by support act Glazed Curtains, a Vienna-based alternative rock band – their “Austrian brothers” as the band affectionately calls them. Having previously opened for LEAP, they were well received by the audience. The band played their new song ‘I Still Hate Myself (Maybe)’, which was released the following day, a raw and reflective song that navigates the struggles of self-doubt and vulnerability, while accepting one’s flaws. Lead singer Constantin dedicated their final song ‘Freaks’, an emotionally charged song about alienation and self-acceptance, to anyone in the audience who has ever been told to be more normal. During their set the crowd started forming their first mosh-pit and the audience was already vibing, ready for LEAP.

LEAP opened their set with the title track of their EP ‘The Downfall’, guaranteeing the crowd “rock and roll therapy”, a promise they definitely kept. Spirits were high throughout the entire night, with the infectious energy of the band spreading to the crowd of mostly young adults. The audience jumped and moshed throughout the evening with lead singer Jack Balfour Scott joining them for a few mosh-pits himself.

The setlist was a mix of older songs from their debut EP ‘1 Million Pieces’ and newer, even unreleased ones, from energy filled tracks , like ‘Sick Sense’ and ‘Energies’ that got the whole crowd jumping, to slower ones like ‘SleepWalker’ and ‘Burnt Matches’ that got the crowd swaying along. Their latest single ‘Over and Out’, released only in April, has turned into an immediate fan favourite.

The evening took a more serious turn when drummer Hector took to the microphone to talk about his childhood friend Jack and his journey with mental health before introducing the song ‘Burnt Matches’ from their ‘Dark Habits’ EP. In the song, Jack opens up about living with Bipolar disorder. It delves into the themes of self-doubt and struggling to break free from destructive cycles, symbolized by burnt matches left over from past mistakes. The lyrics and themes of the song are beautifully mirrored by the steadily increasing instruments, giving the crowd a much needed moment to take a breath, calm down and sway along to the music.

One notable difference to their usual shows was the wardrobe change. Gone were the leather jackets and dark sunglasses, traded in for white jeans, light colours. The beginning of a new era: After playing the unreleased song ‘Waste your Love’ the band proudly announced their first album ‘Entropy’ coming October 3rd. Throughout the night they played two further songs ‘Milly’ and ‘Sinking feeling’ from the album.

LEAP delivers an energetic and captivating blend of grunge and indie rock supported by their introspective songwriting. Most of their music explores subjects of mental health struggles and a search of identity, making it relatable for many in the crowd and offering a cathartic experience. Their honest lyrics are delivered by lead singer Jack, whose magnetic stage presence captivates the crowd and gives the feeling as if he’s singing directly to you. On stage he is joined by Adam Mason on guitar, Declan Brown on bass and Hector Cottam on drums. Their instruments compliment each other perfectly, creating their dynamic and distinctive sound.

A LEAP concert wouldn’t be complete without their first single ‘Energies’ released in 2021, a fitting finale to a great concert. It felt as though the entire evening had been building up this moment. Everyone was buzzing,ready to release all their remaining energy during one final moshpit.

Leap’s debut album ‘Entropy’ comes out October 3rd.

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