Saturday 19 January 2013

Alt-J at Shepherd's Bush Empire

Last night, January 18th, fans braved the snow to queue outside Shepherd's Bush Empire, where Alt-J would play their first gig of 2013. 
The two support acts, Nightworks and Clean Bandit, satisfied the crowd but neither band received quite the response that Alt-J did when they took to the stage.

It was clear that most, if not all, of the crowd knew the band's debut album 'An Awesome Wave' by heart, with each song being met by a rupture of cheers while still only on the opening chords. 
After 'Intro', comes a performance of 'Tessellate' so slick and sultry it could charm the knickers off your nan. Frontman Joe Newman's vocals pour over the crowd like honey and it's as if he's singing to you and you only.
Every track on the setlist is devoured by the crowd, who sing along heartily and sway as if in a trance - 'Matilda' sounds like a karaoke night, only so much more beautiful.
'Breezeblocks' is one of the night's many highlights, it being arguably their most popular single. It's a heartbreakingly wonderful song and is made even more so by the rawness of Newman's vocals and the plethora of lights and suspended, glowing bulbs that illuminate the stage.

The band also performed a surprising cover of Kylie Minogue's 'Slow', slowed down and made undeniably cool. Alt-J seem to have the ability to transform absolutely anything into perfection.

Quite fittingly, the band end the night with the two closing tracks on their album - the beautifully fragile 'Handmade' and bhangra-spangled 'Taro'. They seem genuinely humbled by the applause and screams of adoration that they so deserve, and that's always something lovely to see.
It was a magnificent show and one that I'm sure will be remembered by all for quite some time - and the way things are looking for Alt-J, it's unlikely we'll see them in such a small venue for much longer.

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