Bang Bang Eche/Polka Party
Koko, London
13/08/2010

The kids are out in force tonight at Koko, with the entire crowd soon whipped into a party mood by a thrilling bill of emerging talent.

Steve Lamacq favourites Polka Party open the show and belt straight into their jerky, angular guitar riffage and non-stop indie-disco hits. Opening with ‘Killer’, taken from their brand new EP, the boys serve up an ace by moving seamlessly into BBC 6Music playlisted gem ‘Serbian Tennis’. Polka Party’s sound is a definite Rakes (RIP) meets Young Knives vibe and as they end with ‘Korean Cinema’ the Koko public gives them a rousing send off. 

Headliners, New Zealand act Bang Bang Eche (pronounced ‘Etch’), show tonight why they’re a band with such broad appeal From the trendiest Shoreditch types to Camden’s most brutal scream-punk worshippers, seemingly everyone can find a bit of love for BBE. And it’s had them pigeon-holed next to the likes of Hadouken!, The Prodigy and Therapy? as a result. They’re well rehearsed for this show, a full ten weeks taking in the width of the European festival circuit has seen to that and the fact that they can do this kind of touring as an unsigned act with only two self released EPs tells you everything you need to know – the band bring a whole new meaning to the ethic of DIY.

Frontman Zach Doney tears around the stage throughout the band’s set tonight while young drummer James Sullivan boasts effortless Duracell drumming and a perma-grin. They showcase new tracks including provisionally titled ‘Fan The Haue’ – featuring a funky bassline from bopping bassist T’Nealle Worsley – alongside some classic synth punk numbers ‘Time Mismanagement’, ‘Fingers In The Till’ and ‘Four To The Flour’, that all point to a potentially sizzling debut album when it drops next year. Fingers crossed.

Neil Hayes