Local Natives
HMV Forum, London
23/11/2010

If you were at a festival this summer, sat down somewhere munching on a hideously overpriced burger and found yourself listening to some impressive sounding harmonies floating over the hills, it’s likely that you were missing Local Natives.  A “must see” band on the bill of just about every UK festival this year, the Los Angeles five-piece have spent 2010 on the road and it’s led to this, their final gig of the year and largest headline show of the lot.

From the excitement that greets their entrance, it’s unbelievable to think that the band were almost unheard of this time last year; even they seem a little shocked. But as they bash out the opening bars of ‘Camera Talk’ it’s clear they’re unfazed and look just as excited to be here. And despite their gruelling touring schedule, look full of energy (probably helped by their impending time off). 

Getting straight into the expertly carved groove of their trademark, percussion driven sound it’s plain to see why the band have amassed such a large fan base in such a short time as they bounce into their cover of Talking Heads’ paranoia-riddled ‘Warning Sign’. Appealing to fans of everyone from David Byrne’s aforementioned arty ensemble to Vampire Weekend, there’s a lot here to like. Whether it’s the heavy artillery drills of ‘Wide Eyes’ or the soft strums of a slowed down version of ‘Cubism Dream’, the band have a way of mixing it up with every song, through to even branching out into karaoke with an impromptu sing along for ‘Airplanes’.

The one constant with Local Natives though is that they are as tight as the skin on their superfluous snare drum, and their set tonight oozes intelligence and invention from start to finish.

Michael Consagra