On stage for a bit as if soundchecking, or hanging around, then just kicked straight into songs. Poppy in a similar way to Prince or Danger Mouse, rather than overtly Stock Atkin and Waterman hit-factory style. Some winning, interesting tunes, though a few of the songs were lacking in a 'hook'. Their last song was good synth/beats pop tune to dance to at a weekend, or at a push on a Tuesday night in East London. More of that please.
Rather strangely, the encore nearly didn't happen. The DJ had to turn down the music he was playing after the set, then people started clapping and the band came back on. Not sure if encore was planned as the band seemed to discuss what they'd be playing and the way the music came on straight after they finished suggested that was it from them.
What's good about seeing someone American in a small venue is that, to get to be sent abroad, they're probably done a bit more practicing than a UK act playing a same-sized venue, which the performance that extra bit of edge. Also, the venue can influence how you feel about a gig. In a small tent on a sunny day at a festival, we became instant fans. But we probably wouldn't have done so if we'd seen them at mid-afternoon on a big stage. Similarly it would have been a very different experience if, rather than seeing them with the cool kids at Cargo, we'd seen them supporting the Foals (but you never know...)
No comments:
Post a Comment