Love is a wave? Hardly...
The girl in front of me has just shot me one of the dirtiest looks I’ve ever seen in my life. She’s pissed off because the girl I’m standing with has just barrelled into her, arms flailing, and has knocked her vodka and coke all over her friend’s back. All I can do is flash an awkward smile as she gazes at me with real hatred in her eye, but the guy standing next to me is having none of it. “I don’t know what her problem is,” he shouts in my ear, “it’s a bloody gig not a library.”
Up on stage, Crystal Stilts are having problems of their own. A bunch of girls in the front row have spent the last 20 minutes stealing the band's beer, pulling the monitors off the stage and getting all of the band's equipment sodden with booze. Now, as they attempt to play ‘Departure’, one of them has jumped on stage to dance with the band. Admittedly, it’s quite funny watching a girl in a floral dress prance around the stage picking up beers without a care in the world, but for the band it’s the last straw. After telling her politely and firmly to piss off, they launch into another song only for the lead singer to have most of a can of San Miguel spat in his face. As you can imagine, this ends up with the offenders being carted off by the bouncers, to the bemusement of everyone packed into Cargo’s side room. “That’s the first time anyone has been kicked out of one of our gigs,” is all the band's puzzled-looking keyboard player can offer as an apology.
You just don’t expect this sort of aggro at a Crystal Stilts gig. A mix of The Doors, The Velvet Underground and Television, they have to be one of the least violent-sounding bands ever; a band that I’ve been curious about ever since they released 'Departure' back in 2009. I’ve always managed to miss them when they come over, but man, are they worth the wait.
I might be a bit biased as I tend to gloss over the flaws the first time I see a band play, but Crystal Stilts are nigh-on perfect tonight. The bass rumbles along like a tube train, whilst fuzzy guitars and monotone vocals mesh together into this pseudo-‘60s beat pop that just seems to lift you up by your arms and carry you with it. Screw people who don’t dance at gigs, I’m not afraid to say that I spent the entire show swaying around like a cross between some bare-chested hippy at a Stone Circle party and my dad after one to too many Tetley’s Best. Don’t worry; I kept my shirt on...
The band finish with what turns out to be an unintentionally ironic airing of ‘Love is a Wave’. As the last notes sound out, I feel a nudge on my back. “It’s your round,” yells my mate, and dutifully I trudge off to the bar where I’m stung for £20 for two vodka sodas and a beer. Hmmmm, on second thoughts, maybe that girl had a point.
Crystal Stilts will be playing XOYO on the 20th of June. Their second album In Love With Oblivion is being released on April 11th through FortunaPOP.
Click here to see all London live music
Click here for London gigs
Click here for things to do in London
Add an event
Frieze Art Fair to launch new section for young galleries in 2012
Frieze have today announced details for the 2012 edition, their tenth art fair in London. Taking place...