London Airwaves 2008
A band not conforming to the electronic flavour of the night is Florence and the Machine, appearing at Bar Music Hall.
Iceland's Airwaves Festival has blossomed from its inception in 1999, growing from a small local event into one of the premier alternative festivals in Europe. Friday 19th September saw Airwaves come to London, as eight venues across Shoreditch played host to fifty of independent music's new hopes and brightest talents.
Airwaves is a little different to your average live event. The prevailing theme of the event is that of the alternative, which is highlighted by the abundance of small, electronica-based acts on the schedule. Appearing upstairs at the Old Blue Last early in the evening is My Toys Like Me, a local, unsigned act. To describe their sound as chaotic would be to put it mildly. Huge, crushing basslines blast across the small venue, playing counterpoint to repetitive snarling guitar. Singer Frances Noon cuts a strange figure, howling in a disturbingly childlike voice, wrapped in a dress boasting a myriad of colours. Among the crowd in the downstairs was Florence, of she and the Machine, looking decidedly unimpressed with the press at the bar.
Metronomy are only ten minutes late onstage at the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen, the large queue for entry a great indicator of the burgeoning popularity of electro's new darlings. The venue is really quite impressive, but a large bar staffed by a single person for large periods meant that many fans spend the entire set waiting for drinks. Metronomy take the stage wearing their familiar push-button lights around their necks, as well as small torches fastened to their instruments. This visual element adds to the sound and light combination that make Metronomy such an enjoyable band to see live. At times, they freeze simultaneously, striking poses reminiscent of the Beastie Boys.
The set is well received, with tracks like 'My Heart Rate Rapid' causing more than one voice in the crowd to sing along in piercing falsetto. 'Radio Ladio' receives a similar reception, with its quirky and distinctive synthesiser squeak sticking in the mind long after the set is finished. The music is so rhythmic that at times you can feel the floor tremble as the entire audience bounce in time.
A band not conforming to the electronic flavour of the night is Florence and the Machine, appearing at Bar Music Hall. The cavernous interior is filled with people, with more being turned away at the door. 'Between Two Lungs' opens thing up, and as Florence hits her first note, earlier doubts about her stamina disappear. Despite having been out in several venues throughout the evening, her voice is most definitely present and correct here. The band are dependable as ever, but easily overwhelmed by the power of Florence's voice, which carries much more power and emotion than seems possible from such a slender frame.
'Kiss With A Fist' is the most high-tempo moment of the set, with an angry drum beat and reverb-laden guitar matching the anger of the lyrics. 'Dog Days' follows, a piano-led number that sounds like a fable. The band takes to the foreground, producing an energetic and light sound that offsets the painful emotion of the vocals.
As Florence and the Machine leave the stage, the spotlight turns once again to electronica and DJ sets, many of which will continue well into the morning. As they end, so does London Airwaves 2008, one of the most eclectic events Shoreditch has seen for a while, but one that hopefully will become a regular fixture in East London.
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