Luke’s Alphabet Tour – E: Evokateur at London 93 Feet East – 9th March 2012
Brick Lane in London is home to two things: curries and hipsters. Whether you’re after a t-shirt by a band you’re not cool enough to have heard or a lamb rogan josh, this stretch of road can fulfill your every need. If you’re in a band and looking to draw some of the hippest young music lovers then there’s a number of venues only too happy to provide you with a stage and expensive booze. Taking over 93 Feet East tonight are electro-pop trio Evokateur to celebrate their EP launch.
But before the London-based soundscapers take to the stage later tonight, Woman E warm up the somewhat sparse audience. Their 80s synth-pop inspired beats are bass heavy but delightfully uplifting and infectious with front woman Ria Berlin providing the sugar-sweet tones. The bouncy poptastic beats must have filtered outside as the crowd slowly begins to fill to almost 150 people. As the set progresses the initial 80s influence is swapped for 90s pop a la 2unlimited. The simple drum beat and catchy rhythms are interesting, albeit not that original, but it’s a breath of fresh air in modern music that is overrun with guitar bands.
Tonight’s headliners are also of a different ilk to the mainstream indie brigade with a sound not too far removed from Bjork or Kate Bush. Fronted by the operatic styles of Sarah Villaraus, this England via Mexico three-piece provide a soulful and whimsical performance complete with florescent blue tubing and metronome-esque electronics. Tonight they’re marking the release of their brand new EP entitled ‘Crows’ Wedding’ to over 200 people who are still filing in to the venue. The EP’s opener ‘Same as You’ is a soaring, atmospheric number that fills the room. The bass is heavy and there’s a slight new wave vibe that keeps the hipsters interested. For a band who are still yet to find their true calling in the main, the size of the crowd here is nothing short of impressive, the only downside is the time.
If you’re a band playing east London at midnight to a crowd who have been steadily drinking for many hours previous, an instrumentally-led set with Zola Jesus tendencies isn’t going to keep the audience interested for too long. The crowd are up for dancing and sadly, Evokateur aren’t the band that inspire movement beyond the odd sway. This doesn’t detract from the quality of the music, but 93 Feet East have recognised the tempo and aren’t hanging around. Unfortunately the night revellers file out the door in search of indie club nights while this dreamy electro outfit showcase their new tunes to those who aren’t drunk enough to dance, but sober enough to enjoy.
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