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Rating: Eh, the Klaxons.
Their debut on the indie scene with that "Myths of the Near Future" stirred quite a fuss among the public and critics, who were not new to the works of the three Londoners given the prior release of some rather convincing demos.
The English press praised them (as was predictable, after all). Many dismissed them as a mere attempt at musical recycling, while on the diametrically opposite side there were those who had already gone crazy over the three Londoners and their sound, bringing up that strange definition of Nu Rave (I must be dumb, but I don't think the Klaxons have much to do with raves). Well.
As for me, I tried to listen to the album with a rather detached and impartial attitude: a fresh, energetic sound (the bass riff and the sirens of "Atlantis to Interzone" are a high-voltage electric shock), definitely danceable and very inclined to live performances... nothing so shocking and original, but something different from the thousands of Arctic Monkeys clones infesting the English scene.
With these premises, I present myself Wednesday night in the company of two friends at Hiroshima in Turin for the second date of the Klaxons' first mini Italian tour.
The evening starts quite well: as soon as I enter, I am fortunate to meet James, the keyboardist, walking around with four beers in hand. A photo is a must, but in thanking him I disastrously get the name wrong and say: "Thank you so much, JAMIE." He doesn't flinch and with a big smile tells me that I got confused and that it doesn't matter. What a nice guy.
The colorful audience, all tight pants, converse/vans on their feet and improbable fringes, is in eager anticipation, and around 10:30 pm the Neils Children make their appearance, the opening band.
What can I say, they seem like a knock-off of the Klaxons themselves, but they warm up the audience with some good tracks.
Finally, ours take the stage. And they start with "Atlantis to Interzone" which sends all of Hiroshima into a frenzy as they collectively sing, jump, and mosh. A dazzling start, nothing to say. The rest of the concert alternates between other very convincing moments (what a riot with "Magick", and everyone singing to "Golden Skans") and others less so.
The sounds were not exactly the best, and I especially refer to the guitar which remains too much in the background overshadowed by bass and drums hitting hard. Good vocal performance, however, by James and Jamie who alternate on vocals (and also on instruments), great falsetto on "Golden Skans."
In short, a great concert. Intense and convincing. I leave having lost three kilos from the massive sweat and my legs struggle to keep me standing. Try moshing for an hour straight.
I've never thought the Klaxons were an amazing band (and I don't think you have either), but these three young guys from London certainly know how to earn their bread.
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