LIVE REVIEW: Enter Shikari @ Alexandra Palace, London
What should have been a triumphant return to live form from ENTER SHIKARI ended up falling a bit flat as only three quarters of the band made it out. Carrying on regardless – or not – the gig was imbued with a sense that, while live music is back, it could disappear again at any notice.
NOVA TWINS kicked things off at Alexandra Palace, playing to the kind of crowds that are sure to be the norm in their future, if their current trajectory is anything to go by. Amy and Georgia took the crowd by storm, playing hits from their debut album, Who Are The Girls?, and filling the massive room with their bass-driven anthemic sound. We’re treated to a rousing rendition of single Undertaker, which recently enjoyed a remix from peers FEVER 333, meaning that a lot of the crowd was singing along, and it was the first point during the evening where the venue really seemed to come alive. Appearing on every other support slot you’ve seen over the past year, NOVA TWINS walk the walk that their debut album promised – a riotous band with a performance style to match the attitude and outspoken politics they have offstage as well. If you haven’t heard of them by now, where have you been?
Rating: 8/10
Next up were TRASH BOAT, a band who were put on the bill earlier that day to replace DINOSAUR PILE-UP, unable to play because, again – COVID-19. While their music fits the bill in the sense that it’s anthemic metalcore adjacent, to play to a room full of people who had never heard of you until half an hour beforehand takes guts, and the band don’t quite rise to the challenge. “When I got the call this morning asking if we wanted to play Alexandra Palace this evening, it was the easiest decision I’d ever made!” says frontman Tobi Duncan, with obvious gratitude. The crowd enjoys the band’s energetic hardcore-meets-pop-punk mix, but it’s the banter in between the songs which often falls flat – none of the self-awareness that ENTER SHIKARI would display later on in the evening. The effect is that of a killer band who nevertheless take themselves a bit too seriously, but with rave reviews still coming in for Don’t You Feel Amazing? this band will surely get another chance to prove themselves once more.
Rating: 6/10
No one quite understands how tenuous the live scene is at the moment, like ENTER SHIKARI. Forced to leave one of their bandmates behind after a positive COVID-19 test, the band take to one of the biggest venues in London without Chris Batten, instead employing the use of vocals and bass samples from their warm up show in Bexhill on the 27th November for their return to the stage for the Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible tour.
Kicking things off with The Great Unknown, the atmosphere of the 10,000 strong crowd is immediately elated and jubilant – with an air of defiance. Batten’s absence brings a darker tone to the proceedings, as if everyone there knew it could all disappear at a moment’s notice. It’s ENTER SHIKARI, though, so the crowd mosh on regardless, delighted to be back in the pit after so long. The anthemic tone of the opening song is a perfect one to kick things off, and with a confetti cannon already put to good use, the gig was well underway.
ENTER SHIKARI have been straying to and fro between rock and electronica for a while, so it’s only fitting that the performance of their 2015 smash hit Anaesthetist was coupled with the Reso Remix as an outro. During the song, Rou Reynolds had to make an emergency stop to the crowd after someone fell unconscious – reflecting the interesting and still-ongoing changes to the way gigs are conducted now, in the wake of the Travis Scott controversy. Stopping the song halfway through and then restarting it is a testament, not only to the kind of power (and responsibility) that performers and specifically Rou, have over a crowd, but also the ability to conjure up a vibe straight away once it got going again.
An encore came in the form of a quick message from Chris. It was a lovely touch to see him there on the big screens, but it did also drive home just how abnormal the whole atmosphere was. That was followed by a solo acoustic performance of Constellations from Rou, including a big sing-along from the crowd. Rou also took the opportunity to speak about how he’d been finding the past two years. He freely admitted that he hadn’t been able to get any songwriting done. “I can’t write music without human connection,” he said, to rousing cheers and clapping. It’s a sweet sentiment but in the age of COVID-19, when any musician could be struck down and forced to miss a show, it almost seems like an excuse. “After this tour, we’re going to go away and write the best album ever!” yells Rou before being joined by his band onstage. A statement that remains to be seen.
Ending on Live Outside was an interesting choice – a mid-career crowd pleaser which tackles themes of social anxiety. Acting as a microcosm of the gig as a whole, the song was received with celebration, with a dark undertone. Whilst Chris stayed home, and cases were on the rise, we all partied anyway.
Rating: 7/10
Check out our photo gallery from the night’s action in London from Dev Place Photos here:
