The rise of Leeds band Yard Act has been as relentless as the biting wind that batters their hometown on the night of their show at the Belgrave Music Hall.
The group formed as the Covid pandemic crept up on us but they've defied the last 24 months of limbo to become one of the defining voices of a disaffected post-Brexit Britain with their acerbic, character-driven post-punk tracks.
After teasing song after song throughout 2021, they started this year with a closely fought battle to land their debut album at number one; missing out to Years And Years despite rave reviews.
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On Tuesday night their frenzied schedule in support of The Overload brought them to the Belgrave Music Hall in Leeds as part of Independent Venue Week.
Tickets for the show sold out almost immediately and with their chief champions BBC Radio 6music recording their homecoming show, it goes without saying the atmosphere at the venue was electric.
And it wouldn’t be right to forget support band Cheap Teeth, who capitalised fully on the fervour. The four-piece brought a colossus of a sound, with jolting blues underpinned by their singer's cutthroat vocals painting pious imagery that conjured a likeness to Tom Waits and Nick Cave.
As for the main event, Yard Act have established themselves through singer James Smith's wry lyricism but it was the core of the band that kicked things off as Ryan Needham and Jay Russell's undulating rhythm section laid the foundation for guitarist Sam Shjipstone to create a frantic racket.
As Smith made his way on with a glass of red wine in hand, the crowd went into rapture and the gig kicked off with a splendid version of Dark Days from the group's first EP.
Smith is on his A-game throughout and engaged the crowd with an attitude and presence that somehow combines the parka-sporting cocksure confrontation of Liam Gallagher and flamboyant allure of fellow Yorkshire group Pulp's Jarvis Cocker.
The group's crunchy guitar-centric sound as a whole as well inspires comparisons to a whole range of acts including fellow contemporary post-punk/spoken word group Dry Cleaning and uncompromising outfits like Leeds' Gang Of Four and Manchester's The Fall.
On the flip side, because Yard Act are so distinctly influenced by these groups it becomes harder to distinguish them from their musical forefathers while Smith's one-thing-to-the next lyrics can come off undercooked.
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What's more, his understated absurdist take on frontman charisma can at times stray from the comedy greats he clearly loves and veer into awkward Frank Sidebottom territory.
But if there's an element that truly stands out for them it is Smith's Yorkshire accented vocals. The fact that some of the rapidly delivered verses are indecipherable over the gritty cacophony makes little difference as the crowd rants in unison regardless and punctuates his tales about England's self-imposed isolation (Dead Horse), crackpot homeowners (Fixer Upper) and shady business practices (The Incident).
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A highlight comes in the form of Rich, in which the monotonous repetition of 'It appears I have become rich' on record is pumped into life live with Smith prowling the stage and conducting crowd interaction effortlessly while the band tease their capacity before unfurling into a huge wave of sound.
The main set is brought to an end with one of the band's moments of wide eyed sincerity instead of barking cynicism - the other of note and album stand out Tall Poppies being left off the set tonight - before a one two punch of Payday and The Overload sends the room into bouncing hysterics.
While only time will tell whether Yard Act can make this long term - and they have already hinted that they have plenty more up their sleeve - what's not in dispute is that they have grasped their moment and the attention of Leeds and beyond and have no intention of letting go.
Set list
Dark Days
Witness (Can I Get A?)
Dear Horse
Fixer Upper
The Incident
Pour Another
Rich
The Trapper's Pelts
Human Sacrifice
100% Endurance
Payday
The Overload
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