Live Review

Death From Above 1979 – Forum, London

• 24th May 2011

A variety of people are out for DFA1979’s show at the Kentish Town forum. Down the front are kids with peaked caps throwing themselves around with punks, and at the back, old rockers with a large number of ‘ordinary’ folk.

It’s indicative of their music; bass heavy, rhythmically aggressive, thick distortion. No surprise then that it appeals to fans of drum n bass to punk, electro to straight up rock n roll!

What surprised me most about the duo is just that: there are only two of them! The Forum got assaulted with a sound most four-piece bands would be proud of. What they lack in personnel they make up for in energy, notably from drummer Sebastien Grainger. Singing drummers are a rarity but Grainger, on his elevated plinth is all out attack from the off. Strangely, it’s only him that’s actually lit up, with keys/bassist Jesse F Keeler being in the dark for most of the evening. It’s a choice that only adds focus to the frenetic beats. Throughout the set there is interaction with the crowd from Grainger. He gives a nod to support band Jamaica, to which some of the crowd express disdain. Grainger’s retort is in the shape of a drum sample with a distorted vocal line of ‘Shut the fuck up, shut the fuck up’. Whether or not he had this programmed in preparation for such an event is neither here nor there, Jamaica were thoroughly entertaining and musically adventurous.

It’s normal practice to overlook aspects of a show such as lighting. In this instance, the crew’s ability to hit every beat, off beat, crescendo and drop with flashes and strobes lifts the atmosphere, creating a workout for the eyes as well as the ears.

A thought crossed my mind as Keeler lit his third or fourth cigarette of the night: How big a band do you have to be these days to smoke on stage and not be pulled off? The answer: Big enough to sell out 2 nights at the Forum. Being in attendance on the second night brings into question how good the first was. With a group that disbanded some 5 years ago, those fortunate enough to get tickets probably didn’t care. Leeds and Reading aside, this might just be the last chance to see a band so hugely appreciated in rock’s subculture. Whether their reunion is fully fledged is another article entirely, but for now know that this was a coming together of genres and social groups that will stick in the noggin for a while.