Rosie Oddie and the Odd Squad at The Roundhouse

Rosie Oddie and the Odd Squad at The Roundhouse

24 April, 2009
by: Simon827

They've made an effort, that's for sure. Dr. Marten's FREEDM Studio in Camden's Roundhouse is decked out in style. Who Dr. Marten is or why he can't spell is a mystery, but the room is the perfect venue for an intimate showcase of Rosie Oddie and the Odd Squad's debut album. The walls are covered in giant photos whilst silver painted waiters serve what, sadly, turns out to be badges and not food. Yet it puts everyone in the mindset that this isn't just a gig. It's an occasion. And a special one at that.

Naturally the night wouldn't be right without a support act and the chosen quartet turn out to be a top choice. Suiting the feel of the evening, without sounding anything like The Odd Squad, Post War Years play electro-led indie reminiscent of the Klaxons but with so much more soul. Each song is mathematical and experimental, yet still easily enjoyable and never dull and even the most static person can't help but be drawn in and find themselves nodding along. Sounding like a team-up between Minus the Bear and The Guillemots, which can only be awesome, Post War Years are a very positive start to the evening.

Despite an already good atmosphere, the evening transforms as soon as The Odd Squad take to the stage. It seems the crowd is split between people like me who are along for the ride and people who by the sounds of things have escaped the hospital for the evening. It's been a long time since I've heard such a reaction to an underground band and the enthusiasm continues throughout the set. If The Odd Squad can make everyone love them as much as these people do, then they could rule the world...

Joining the usual five members on stage, all complete with silver face-paint not quite in the style of Adam Ant, is a string and brass section, further emphasising the effort that's gone into tonight. It's not something that would have occurred to me considering The Odd Squad's music, but any doubts are crushed as the band pile into their first song with the mini-orchestra complementing them fantastically. It works so well in fact that I really hope Rosie starts to takes them everywhere with her. Behind the band is a series of projected films and images and this may be the only thing about the evening that annoys me. The intention's good and most of the time it complements the music, but occasionally something strange, or even odd (see what I did there?) appears and is nothing but a distraction from what we're all here for.

Having seen and enjoyed the band once before I knew vaguely what to expect, but tonight really blows me away. You wouldn't think this was a night promoting their first album, more like their third or fourth. They play together with an expertise you would only expect from a group who had been playing live for many years. But despite proving themselves as a band, what Rosie really shows tonight is why they're called Rosie Oddie and The Odd Squad. This is Rosie's band and she dominates the stage like a miniature Helen Bonham Carter with better hair who occasionally seems to be distracted by creatures in the audience that, although I try my best to see them, really don't appear to be there. No more drugs for that girl...

The set finishes with a song that apparently everyone else has heard. ‘Black America' is great at first. Stupidly easy to dance to but once the chorus kicks in, it just seems a little pop-punk compared to the rest of the band's music. Yet it's easily forgivable once the band prove how tight they can be towards the end with a bridge that even the most accomplished musician would have trouble jamming along to. In the end, the band prove that they have a decent and varied bunch of songs. Yet the stand out track is ‘Jesse', a merry bouncy song which I have such an urge to sing along to despite not knowing the words. I suspect if I did however, it wouldn't be as happy as I first thought.

So as the band exit the stage, deservedly looking pleased with themselves and leaving the crowd wanting more, it's tricky not to be impressed. The Odd Squad are an impressive group who put more effort into their act than most bands and it really does show. With an album coming out and festival dates booked for this summer, maybe 2009 could really be their year...

Keep an eye out, Rosie Oddie and the Odd Squad's debut album is out very soon!

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Simon827