Enter Shikari + Young Guns + Tek One @ Wolverhampton Civic Hall – 20th March 2012
With their third album “A Flash Flood Of Colour” debuting on the UK Album Chart at number 4 and an extremely busy 2011 Enter Shikari are still writing songs and according to Zane Lowe songs like “Sssnakepit” are “the hottest in the world.” The range of influences from punk metal to electro dub is what makes Enter Shikari so easy to listen to and why they continue to sell out here at Wolverhampton Civic Hall. With over 500 gigs under their belt worldwide since 2007 it was just another shift for the band.
Tonight’s crowd had the added bonus of two fairly established and well received support acts in Tek One and Young Guns. Rather than politely watching both bands had the audience going fairly mental so, by the time the headliners arrived, things were well and truly warmed up.
Right from the start of Enter Shikari the electronics have revolutionised their sound (that and Rou Reynolds ability to scream really loudly.) The band are currently on tour in support of their new album “A Flash Flood Of Colour” which features the singles “Sssnakepit” and politically expressive “Gandhi Mate, Gandhi” on this new material the band have experimented with a dubstep sound, where better to test out this sound than on a live tour.
The deafening bassy rhythms passed through the Civic Hall as Reynolds screamed and screamed some more. Rou is angry about society, the failing economy, terrorists and a faulty system and him and the St Alban’s lads are “sick of this s***!” While giving their young fans a politics lesson “Gandhii Mate, Gandhi” was the best performance of the night. Lyrics are not just lyrics to Enter Shikari, the lyrics are deep and absurd. Rou had to be told to calm down halfway through the song as it was all getting a bit much.
It wasn’t just the older material that was getting the attention of the crowd, after the years go by a band usually looses some of its reputation with average songs (just look at Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds) but Enter Shikari seem to have been at the same level from the start. The experimental new sounds make them even better.
I wondered why Enter Shikari had gained the reputation as one of the most exciting live acts to witness and found out tonight, with the stage dives and, most importantly, the level at which the band performed. The vocals were flawless and the sound was incredible. “Arguing With Thermometers” had a punk NME feel to it but with the Enter Shikari trademark screams and heavy drum beats.
Enter Shikari are a critically acclaimed unique UK rock sensation. There are no album fillers on their third album, still after years of performing, the Civic Hall was heaving with “Greebos” singing along to every word. I look forward to seeing the guys at London’s “Hackney Weekend” and when they return here in Wolverhampton in the near future.
Review – John Kirby
Photos – John Bentley