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SoundsXP Presents

Pictures from some recent gigs we've hosted:

29 March 2013 - Brixton, London

Viv Albertine, VuVuVultures, Left Leg, Mickey Gloss, Big Wave, No Cars, Arthur Gunn, Simon Love (Pictures)

8 March 2013 - Lexington, London

R.Ring, Golden Grrrls, Slushy Guts and Equinox (Pictures)

On Our iPod

Parquet Courts - Light Up Gold (album)

Antony Harding - Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear (album)

Black Angels - Indigo Meadow (album)

Thee Oh Sees - Floating Coffin (album)

Still Corners - Strange Pleasures (album)

Savages - Silence Yourself (album)

Mikal Cronin - MC II (album)

Can’s Ege Bamyasi played by Stephen Malkmus and Friends(album)

Victoria and Jacob - Festival 7"

Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City (album)

Sauna Youth - False Jesii Part II 7”

Lightning Bolt - Oblivion Hunter

Robyn Hitchcock - There Goes The Ice (2x 12")

Latest Forum Posts

Gig Review

The War on Drugs
London, Electric Ballroom

Article written by Peter W - Mar 9, 2012

In 2008, at the nearby Dublin Castle pub, a small crowd of about twenty people watched The War on Drugs; now four years and two albums later there are over eight hundred eager fans waiting to see them emerge onto the Electric Ballroom stage. A very welcome trajectory for a mighty fine band.

Their last London gig at Cargo was marred by terrible sound problems but hopefully the only unpleasant noise we’ll get tonight is the grotesque mumbling of ticket touts (one work force that seems to be weathering the Financial Crisis intact). When the band finally appears and Adam Granduciel strums the opening chords of ‘Buenos Aires Beach’ all fears are allayed. Indeed, tonight the band have never sounded better.

This particular line-up has now been steady for over a year (a miracle for The War on Drugs) and the result is a tightness and confidence hitherto unseen in their live performance; the already-epic ‘Come to the City’ benefits hugely from an elongated intro that merges a harmonica wail and foreboding synths – the ensuing drumbeat and bass line are made all the more satisfying. Likewise, the motorik surge of both ‘Baby Missiles’ and ‘Your Love is Calling My Name’ become enthralling walls of noise.

One minor concern is that this confidence can always turn into awful self-indulgence and indeed Granduciel is guilty-as-hell tonight, although thankfully only once. It’s just a terrible shame that he decides to commit the offence during ‘Taking the Farm’, a true gem in their back catalogue. Seemingly not content his Dylan-esque inflections, he disastrously employs the Zimmerman method of singing in a makeshift tempo; problem is he hasn’t told his bandmates and therefore looks like a drunk crooner continuously missing his cue. Please, never again.

That aside, the War on Drugs’ blend of psychedelic blues and synth rock is a delight and judging from the reaction of the crowd, the band’s appeal shows no sign of waning any time soon. It’s not entirely delusional to think the next time they play this part of London it’ll be at the Roundhouse.

Links:
http://thewarondrugs.net