Proof that great tunes alone don’t automatically make for a good show, Islands’ oddly underwhelming set at Hoxton was particularly galling as it promised so much. True, the set was geared so heavily towards new material, but that shouldn’t have mattered- the impressive blend of AF-like orchestral grandeur and upbeat African rhythms was just, if not more engaging than anything from the debut. The actual performance was solid too; impressively energetic, with the violinist particularly standing out for his enthusiastic additions to their tremendous sound. But the atmosphere was totally off; the band didn’t look like they didn’t want to be there, lead singer Nick occasionally making barbed comments to the crowd, and the audience was teeming with that abhorrent subspecies “Hipstera Hoxtonus,” to whom genuine, non-ironic enjoyment is anathema. Hopefully, once the album’s released and people are familiar with the songs their live show will work better- they’ve clearly got the potential to be a phenomenal live proposition, but we were only afforded teasing hints of that tonight.(Photo: Amadeep Chana)
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