Live Review

Milk Kan – 12 Bar Club, London

• 22nd Jul 2010

Tonight in the 12 bar club The Television Personalities are already onstage, carrying a legacy that has seen them hailed as favourites of Kurt Cobain and, more recently, MGMT, the weathered band knock about on the tiny stage in a rather jovial spirit. Dan Treacy’s men are here alongside welsh rapper Akira The Don who headlines the night with a bare bones set, stripped of his usual sample and beat driven backing, both artists are here playing as guests of Milk Kan.

Perveyers of antifolk, Milk Kan have been curating a number of gigs that see them inviting their heroes, collaborators and contemporaries to perform alongside them as they also take to the stage to give fans a taste of material from their new album and revel in the songs that have already seen them make fans of BBC’s Steve Lamacq and Huw Stephens.

And whether it is tracks from 2009’s self titled album like the indie sleeper hit ‘God with an i-pod’ or new material from their forthcoming effort, it all goes down extremely well with the fans, obviously fond of the rough around the edges band, that have gathered closely in the pokey but atmospheric back room.

The band come on like a cross between Scroobius Pip and Bob Dylan in terms of delivery, while the music is a tapestry of influences with several nods in the disparate directions of folk balladry, hip-hop and punk, all combining to create a rabble rousing sight to behold as Milk Kan turn up the amps and turn on the charm.