Kid Adrift at The Old Blue Last
Kid Adrift – The Old Blue Last – 20 July 2010
Words and photo’s by Sean Gibson
Standing outside The Old Blue Last in the refreshingly cool air I can’t help but think that I witnessed the start of something tonight. All the chatter around us is the same –
“Fookin’ amazin’…”
“Absolutely tore the roof off…”
“Soooo good on stage…”
“Did you see the keyboard guy when he…”
And that’s just what I can hear in the breaks in the exact same conversation I’m having with my friend. And it’s all true. Kid Adrift band were amazing, and I completely wasn’t expecting it.
After getting the call from the editor to attend this gig I went and did the obligatory Myspace research, listened to the songs and read the hype. I was suitably impressed by the songs. Not blown away mind you, but impressed. Well arranged, big hooks, big sound – “This might be fun” I thought to myself and off I went. The Old Blue Last is a tiny venue and I’m surprised, after reading all the noise about these guys, that this is where they’re launching their EP. An hour later I’m glad, as it was a pleasure watching such a phenomenally explosive act in such a confined space. They take the stage –
“Hi, we’re Kid Adrift from Scotland. Up there we have a dance party called a céilidh. I want tonight to be like that, with everyone dancing…”
They start off with a haunting intro, the female vocalist’s voice weaving a dramatic siren song over a mix of ethereal synth and classical piano. As the song drops the piano rolls into a series of Muse-like arpeggios and the band go nuts. In the space of the first 3 songs I think the lead man (names anyone?) breaks various things on his guitar a couple of times, damn near dislocates his neck from head banging so hard and at one point actually swings over the crowd from a pipe on the roof (thanks for freezing right then camera). It was hot in here to start with but within fifteen minutes the joint is a literal sweatbox from the energy coming off the stage inspiring everyone to move in some or other way.
The songs are all good, there isn’t a single one that makes me think that it’s filler. Amazing voices, incredible arranging of piano and synths, creative build-ups and innovative breaks from the drummer and I’m non-stop blown away by the band’s antics on stage. The lead cat jumps up and down, bangs his head like he’s trying to shake it off and gets down into the crowd on more than one occasion. He’s going to be the scourge of roadies and security in the years to come. The female pianist/vocalist is just as amazing, backing up him up with an equally engaging voice, all the while keeping the songs in various states of crescendo with her nimble fingers and as for the other guy on the synths,…jeez. I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone attack keyboards with such aggression. I check in briefly with the friend who accompanied me – her eyes are wide and she’s got one of those “damn, this is impressive” faces on. “How awesome are these guys?” she shouts at me. I nod and smile excitedly, change lenses and fight my way forward again.
They finish off with a cover of Deftone’s “My Own Summer”, which is unexpected and, like everything else tonight, phenomenally put together. The piano girl does all the singing giving the lead guy a chance to rip into some guitar and rejoin the crowd, furthering his roadie’s headaches. Once done there was no way they would be allowed to exit the little sauna they’d created just yet and we’re treated to one more track –
“The physics students will like this one”…
…which goes right over my head but hey, the song was killer. Just like all the others. The lasting memory I have of the end of the gig is the synth player smashing his elbow into his keys looking like he’s mere seconds away from actually headbutting the poor machine. He gets so worked up that when the song ends he stands back and looks around sheepishly, like he got a little carried away. Awesome. Once outside, shaking the sweat out of my shirt, I ask my friend what she thought.
“The stage was way too small for them…”
And she’s right. It’s clear that this is a band destined for bigger and better things. I don’t think the songs have the supernova factor just yet, but you can hear it rumbling in the background. A couple more memorable melodies, some cracking guitar riffs and the tenacity to survive the music industry gauntlet and these guys will be headlining festivals from Belarus to Coachella. I hope they make it because I’d love to hear what they sound like in 3 or 4 years time.
