Is Tropical, Esben and the Witch, The Big Pink – London HMV Forum

The Big Pink

May 13, 2010

Dark, ominous and electronic is the theme of the night at London’s HMV Forum – so much that the floor is shaking like an earthquake on speed and Red Bull.

The first of the three UK-based bands, Is Tropical, play an impressive set, but the shtick of covering their faces with yellow bandanas is a bit too distracting, eventually feeling more like a hokey gimmick than an original form of artistic expression. Regardless, the early birds in the crowd appear to be approvingly warming up their head-bobbing skills for the rest of the evening.

Esben and the Witch play to a slightly growing audience who seem the most receptive when the drums pick up the pace, bringing a bit more life to the otherwise eerie set.

By the time The Big Pink arrive, the venue is nearly packed to capacity. A band of few words on stage, they head straight into ‘Too Young To Love,’ and then play a few more songs off their debut album, A Brief History Of Love, before speaking a word to the crowd.

Frontman Robbie Furze says that it is a big honour to be playing at the HMV Forum, as the band have watched many acts they love perform there. And with tonight being the last show of the band’s first-ever UK headline tour, it is a special night for them.

When ‘Velvet’ is played, a few over-eager (and probably over-intoxicated) fans attempt to get a moshpit going at the front and center of the floor…but it’s not really that kind of show. Most of the other attendees are so mellow that they could not really seem to care any less about it. The Big Pink are the kind of band that don’t require a flashy performance, as it’s all just about their music and the places it takes the listeners.

In addition to playing tracks off the album, the band perform a brand new song, as well as a stripped-down cover of Beyoncé’s ‘Sweet Dreams.’

Closing out the night with hit single ‘Dominos,’ it is clear there will be no encore – mainly because the band’s most popular song has just been played. Fans linger for a few minutes to make sure of this, as the venue gradually empties as they come to realise the night is over.

In conclusion, a word to the wise: The Big Pink is not for moshers – don’t even try it.

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