Crystal Fighters/Wild Palms/Violens
Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, London
17/11/2009

Day two of the Fly and Levis’ five night revue sees the Hoxton Bar & Kitchen transformed into an enigma-cracking hotbed of wires, keyboards and technical-type stuff. And it’s enough to fry this Fly writer’s guitar-loving brain. What happened to good old Fender Stratocasters with a Big Muff wired up for action? Is this what the kids are up to these days?

New York’s psychedelic upstarts, Violens obviously see our binary-code frazzled expressions and decide to eschew their normal dreamy synth-sweetness tonight in favour of a crunchier, beefier guitar sound. And while they sacrifice the subtleness of songs like ‘Doomed’, it certainly steps their live show up a notch and stops The Fly from spending the entire set thinking the singer sounds like George Michael. Actually, that’s a lie. We DID spend the whole set thinking that – and his singular cross earring did nothing to quell the theory it could actually be the old Wham-banger in disguise.

No such lookalikes in middle-band Wild Palms, who are making tidal waves in the industry – which goes some way to explaining the crushing influx of people from the bar outside as soon as the London four-piece take to the stage.  An industry-packed showcase is never the ideal time for sound issues to slow proceedings, but they eventually hit their jerky, angular stride.  Lou Hill’s vocals skip from urgent, skatty verses to atmospheric, soaring choruses with ease, but The Fly can’t escape the feeling that Wild Palms never hit the peaks we’re anticipating.

Last up are Crystal Fighters, who’ve coupled up tonight’s headline slot with a launch party for new single ‘I Love London’ – ensuring there are plenty of friendly faces ready to erupt as the first synth-groan tumbles out of the wire-heavy set-up.  And erupt it does, as the strangely accented (they’re from London, but speak in an exotic but barely convincing South-American drawl) electro gang tear through a set of bleeps, squeaks and mantras that has the venue creaking from its sweaty foundations. There’s no doubting Crystal Fighters steal the show tonight – and judging by Hoxton’s raucous reception, it won’t be the last time.

Matt Glass