6Fest
229, London
02/10/2010

The people spoke and saved 6Music from a tragic fate. Few of them seem to have made it to 229 however, which is sparsely populated for tonight’s celebration but not embarrassingly so. Pity, as the fest’s line up is solid. No huge names, just loads of top quality bands – the lacklustre 6Music covers band a glaring exception.

Four bands make 6Fest shine. Quirky quintet Modified Toy Orchestra are Kraftwerk locked overnight in Toys ‘R’ Us; five grown men tinkering about with toys and producing some damn fine electronica. A demonic Barbie acts as an antenna, and elsewhere a rocket and a kiddy push-button guitar are the conductors of searing synth soundscapes. With their wonderfully clever folk, Erland & The Carnival create an old world ambience. It’s music at an offbeat, rickety funfair as they twist bits of known poetry with their own lyrics and update old stories with their own unique flair; a curious combination of archaic and modern influences. Headliners The Jim Jones Revue take 50s rock’n'roll and make it their own. All sweaty energy and swaggering style, these slick fortysomethings know how to put on a show. Tight little numbers like ‘Shoot First’ and ‘High Horse’ get right to the point, with frontman Jim Jones (naturally) coaxing the willing crowd right up to the stage to get their rockabilly swing on.

But, for The Fly, it’s Metronomy who win top prize tonight. Not even their delayed arrival on stage can dampen their performance as they barge through a blistering set that draws mainly on their last album ‘Nights Out’. From ‘A Thing For Me’ to the hypnotic ‘My Heart Rate Rapid’, crafty little melodies spliced with unexpectedly vibrant guitar and beats create perfectly danceable tracks. As their trademark lights flash in time with the music, it’s too soon when Joseph Mount dedicates their last song to “all the people in love”, before rattling into the not-so-romantic but absolutely excellent ‘Heartbreaker’.

With picks like these, the station’s redemption is utterly justified. Long live 6Music!

Louise McHenry