Following the release of their second full-length album, The Death of Nightlife on 07 May 2007, Leicester was the eighth date of an extensive nationwide tour covering Edinburgh, Brighton, and almost everywhere in between.  | | Tim from HSCS |
Backstage before the show, the band seemed somewhat nervous or under-whelmed, but all such appearances vanished as soon as the self-styled art-poppers took to the stage. Despite the questionable choice of venue (the expansive Leicester Square, home to club nights Panic and Retribution), HSCS clearly enjoyed themselves, with Tom Denney (vocals, guitar, keyboard) throwing himself around the stage like a wild banshee, and Leesey Frances (vocals, keyboard) oozing chic attitude as she leaned back at the controls. Speaking after the gig, Frances said: "We really got into it, actually! Yeah, we really had fun." The set consisted mostly of promising tracks from their latest album, as well as a peppering of favourites from 2004 debut LP, Fashonista Super Dance Troupe, including highlight 'Are You Feeling Fashionable?', with its tongue-in-cheek anti-consumerist lyrics ("put me on the cover of a magazine / do you sell more copies of Melody Maker?") and high-speed rant 'Fermez La Bouche'. | "HSCS are doing something refreshingly innovative, standing amongst a clutch of other inspiring bands like unsigned freak-pop duo Munch Munch." | | Darren Loucaides |
Songs from their new release find HSCS exploring a more eclectic range of influences than previously – 'Never The Right Time For Us', the melodramatic nod to indie with crooned vocals and glimpses of the spaghetti western, standing out in particular as a major departure from their earlier work, and holding up well live. 'Pass The Hat Around' is reminiscent of early '90s reverb-drenched bands such as My Bloody Valentine – a recurring theme – whilst 'Kite Eating Tree', 'Midnight Green' and others sound like Blur-tinged art-pop injected with large doses of screaming demon-juice. 'Hospital Drama' continues what HSCS do best – fast-paced hardcore pop, catchy keyboard lines, lung-ripping vocals – and was delivered with an exhilarating passion live. HSCS are doing something refreshingly innovative, standing amongst a clutch of other inspiring bands like unsigned freak-pop duo Munch Munch, and violin-toting, hand-clapping, bright and sparkly Los Campesinos! Unfortunately, these bands don't seem to be getting the exposure they deserve – but perhaps this is precisely how they like it. You can hardly imagine them actively courting NME publicity any time soon.  | | Leesey from HSCS |
It's a shame that Leicester seems incapable of producing such interesting music as this, with the exception of bands like Public Relations Exercise and Her Name Is Calla. Perhaps the exciting new alternative night, Hoppers Club, showcasing the best in alternative, cutting-edge, up-and-coming live bands, will help to change that. As for HSCS, a more intimate venue like Sumo would have better suited tonight's show, as the impressive turnout (especially considering how poorly the gig was advertised) was slightly too sparse for the Leicester Square. Nevertheless, the crowd was lively, noisy, and appeared to be thoroughly entertained - many of them, liking what they heard, swooping on the merchandise stand to purchase the new album afterwards. A 'must-see' band. | 
