Two Door Cinema Club

As previously mentioned, I'm not the tops at live reviews. I love live music (earplugs and all) but when it comes to describing a live performance by a band, it is all far too subjective, on my mood, my anticipation for the band, the amount of alcohol, how long I've had to wait, the lsit goes on.
It's unfair to describe a band based on so many variables.


Last night, all those variables fell into line and saw a great performance by one of the predicted big hitters of 2010.

First of all, the perfect amount of food and booze was consumed both pre and during. Not horrifically drunk a la Olympia Bloc Party. Consequently, I didn't feel the need to jump aroud to one of the younger and more spiky bands around at the moment. The venue, Madame Jo Jo's, was a new one to me but a brilliant one. A crowded bar area (sold out show) and a very interesting drop to the main standing area with a high stage, meaning good sight lines from wherever. The sound was also exceptional, not even close to overpowering for a confined space.

The main attraction of the night were Irish pop rockers Two Door Cinema Club. Looking as if they'd just come from the library, they manage to put on an energetic and confident performance. Technically, the band have mastered how to perform their complicated and expansive songs live, utilising backing tracks to fill out their sound as opposed to be dominated by them, becoming karaoke versions of themselves.
Their poppy but musically clever songs will surely make them massive radio players in the coming year, fitting nicely alongside Delphic in the latest branch of indie/dance crossover bands.


With a debut album out in March, it is looking to be an extremely promising year for music this year.

Im currently listening to Vampire Weekend's masterful Contra for about the millionth time, give or take.
Though I enjoyed the debut, Contra feels like a much more accomplished version of what they want Vampire Weekend intended all along. It is littered with fantastic rhythms, various intertwining melodies and stunning production, glittering and shimmy on the expansive percussion but dirty and cutting on tracks such as Cousin. Contra is currently number 1 in the album charts and it fully deserves to be, an excellent summery listen in such bleak weather