Exlovers Play the Old Queen's Head

Exlovers Play the Old Queen's Head

by: Pete Spoonfed

Exlovers play their first gig of 2010 to a packed out Old Queen's Head

Tonight is time for celebration at the Old Queen’s Head on Essex Road, as Oh, Inverted World prepare for their second birthday party with Exlovers, Tristram, and The Boy Who Trapped the Sun.

What started as an attempt to give existing low-key music events a swift kick up the backside, Oh, Inverted World has grown to such a degree as to intrigue Morrissey himself into attending. But, as the organisers would admit themselves, their events would be nothing without the friends who were bullied into attendance two years ago.

Bullied then, but you can’t say quite the same now, as the clamour of conversation that airs from the mingling audience – scattered around the bar and sofas – begins to drown out second act, The Boy Who Trapped the Sun. The Scotsman handles it well and seems to relish playing background to this party. He engages in audience participation, and doesn’t show any signs of agitation when an over-zealous clapper puts him off beat during his last track, ‘Home’. Laughing it off, he jokes and starts again. It’s the sort of control that you’d hope Tristram replicates in his performance. But as the 25 year old troubadour shyly assembles his band on stage, the audience refuel.

Tristram has attracted a lot of buzz over the last few months. When he starts to play however, he almost goes by unnoticed. Like a substitute teacher in a rowdy class, he can’t control his audience: he barely even tries. After every song he mumbles introductions to the next, it’s a stricken formula that doesn’t seem to attract attention. By about the third song I was starting to become a bit disheartened. I came with high hopes, and I can barely hear this guy sing. Strict ‘Shhs’ begin to hiss around the crowd: they’ve had enough now too. Tristram asks the sound desk for more vocals and cello, starting to be assertive. For a short time, I finally start to hear it – his delicate folk song with cherished contemplation. The most endearing aspect about Tristam’s sound is his tenderness, but that feature fits ill tonight, and before long Tristram is drowned out once again by resuming conversation.

Exlovers immediately take the initiative. As soon as they’re on stage, they’re playing, the drummer pounding a beat that stirs the crowd and finally drawing their attention. Exlovers play their music with a contrast of lethargy and energy. Drums lay out a canvas, which arpeggiated guitars and soft boy-girl harmonies drape over in beguiling indolence. They’re like a more colourful XX: they captivate in their distance.

Their cover of Chris Isaak’s ‘Wicked Game’ entails a bout of drunken singing. As the crowd start to dance and finally react to the music – to this most famous song – I can’t help to wonder whether its potential popularity might spoil this band. Is this a cursed song that casts a reputation too strong for its performer to follow? I don’t know. I hope not, because Exlovers are too good to spoil.

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Pete Spoonfed