The most exciting moment for any music fan is catching a new band have one of those ‘moments’ where they ‘make it’ and Monday was one of those nights. The Bethnal Green Working Mens Club played host to a night curated by clothing brand Lyle & Scott which featured two of the most promising bands around.
It was a night filled with Luv Luv Luv Records roster as it wasn’t just Theme Park and Spector who were performing but there was space for a DJ set from Blood Orange too, making the East London location perfect. First up were Theme Park, still in their early days with more column inches than gigs under their belt, the hype for the five-piece began before their first ever gig and their singles have been making the airwaves. Bravely, the band kicked-off with A Mountain We Love followed by Milk, and although these were the two songs familiar with the crowd it took that for the band feel comfortable on-stage. At first it felt like the expectations were higher than the talent but once the nerves had gone they really got into it, their energy flowed with their tropical beats that are smooth and diverse whilst staying simple and catchy. There is a Friendly Fires-tinge to them but without the cheesiness, a few more gigs and Theme Park will be reaching their potential.
Whilst the wait for Spector to begin the sold-out venue was flooded with hip-hop beats and smooth R&B classics thanks to Dev Hynes/Blood Orange/Lightspeed Champion and his DJing skills that made the wait much more pleasant.
Billed as ‘Spector play their hits’, the band, fronted by the charismatic Fred MacPherson are not afraid of self-deprecating tongue-in-cheek arrogance as the singer carries on with the wit between each song. The nine-song set saw the band in their element, it was like watching a band who’d been together years, they haven’t even reached one yet, the chemistry on stage was electrifying whilst the crowd was buoyant throughout. Current single Grey Shirt & Tie had depth while Celestine is just a glimpse of what the five-piece can achievement. The East-Londoner’s formed less than a year but they have achieved too much in a short space of time, their Jools Holland performance last month sent them into mainstream terrorirty for the first time and just hours before the gig they were in the list for the BBC Sound Of 2012 list, Fred commented that it must be a mistake. Dev Hynes joined the band for an over-the-top guitar solo on Chevy Thunder before the set closed with Never Fade Away, a classic in the making.
Spector are set for a huge 2012, that is already obvious, Theme Park might just join them. Guitar bands are back.
- Matt Pinder
- Photo: Godisinthetv.co.uk