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Gig Review

Cut Copy
London, Roundhouse

Article written by Jonny C - Oct 30, 2011

Cut Copy

Upon entering Camden's famous Roundhouse Theatre, it was striking how mature the evening's audience was, assuming that the primary activity in watching Cut Copy play live would be dancing. However, any fears I or the band may have had about the crowd being unresponsive were quickly dispelled with opener Take Me Over. From then on the band have the crowd doing whatever they wished; from dancing, to singing, to mimicking singer Dan Whitford's exaggerated gesticulation (more on that later). The Australian four-piece are in the home-straight of their tour supporting third album Zonoscope and Whitford invites the crowd and his fellow band members to 'make it an awesome climax, guys'. Both parties duly oblige.

Zonoscope is a clear evolution of Cut Copy's sound, with second album In Ghost Colours being packed with songs ready for the club, their latest effort is their most cohesive and complex record to date. These are pop songs, with sing-along choruses and grin-inducing harmonies, whilst still including the band's customary synth stabs and pounding bass lines that make them as club-ready as anything on its predecessor.

The band's energy is unrelenting, with every song played as if it were the triumphant encore. Stereotypically, Australians are not known for a lack of confidence, but few bands can be as self-assured or comfortable in their own skin as Cut Copy right now. This confidence is reflected in their set-list, playing Lights and Music relatively early on and omitting In Ghost Colours stand-out Far Away entirely. This doesn't stop people dancing to Lights and Music as if it were the closer, with lights illuminating a crowd caught up in the euphoria of one of the great indie dance choruses. Despite being easily their best known song and most instantly enjoyable, the track does not overshadow those that juxtapose it. In fact, the best received song from In Ghost Colours is Hearts on Fire, with Whitford recognising this and pouncing on the bridge, brandishing an open palm to the expectant London crowd before counting down to the return of the chorus, sending the audience into an all-singing, all-dancing ecstasy.

Whitford resembles a somewhat cooler Chris Martin, performing dance moves similar to those of the Coldplay front-man, only in time and supported by significantly better music. Acting as a conductor with his keyboard his podium, the singer takes time whilst singing his silky tones to indicate the rise, fall and intonation of each note, which is particularly useful for the majority of the crowd, who gleefully sing along to every word.

The main highlight was surely Need You Now. It is the closest song in their entire back catalogue to a power-ballad, slowly building before culminating in Whitford's (and the audience's) cry of "I know we're going crazy, but I need you now!" Cut Copy are a band who specialise in moving you physically rather than emotionally, which makes the cathartic nature of Need You Now all the more impressive.

Cut Copy are one of those rare bands that work equally well on record, in a club and live in concert. They really are one of alternative music's most prized assets.

Links:
http://cutcopy.net