Live Review

Everything Everything – Union Chapel, London

• 17th Dec 2010

During November the Union Chapel in Islington played host to the BBC’s Little Noise sessions, bringing big artists back into a small intimate venue, and on a cold, December, Wednesday, music returned to the chapel. The combination of one of the most critically acclaimed bands of 2010 and a 13 piece orchestra from the Royal Northern College of Music, The Man Alive Ensemble was set to be one of the live events of the year.

After a sell out show at the RNCM, the Union Chapel show is the culmination of months of work between the band and an orchestra made of students from RNCM, yet also the finale to what has been an incredible year for Everything Everything. Since releasing their debut album, ‘Man Alive’, in September to extremely positive reviews, the band have gone from mid-way down the festival listings to one of the bands to see, with next year looking even more promising as there’s a slot on the NME awards tour for them too.

Having never been to the Union Chapel before I didn’t know what to expect. To be sat in pews, at a gig, is one of the most strange but also brilliant ways to witness a band. Christmas decor was in full bloom around the venue and the band took to the stage in formal attire before launching into lead single ‘Schoolin’.

With such a heavy synth based sound, and no Korg or Yamaha in sight, it is down to the orchestra to take up the mantle. With the riffs and melodies coming from strings and brass, a whole new layer is added to the sound, almost as if the band were meant to play like this. The more synth-laden tracks open the set, dropping the audience head first into the sound of Stratocasters and strings. It is only a couple of songs into the set that the full force of the ensemble can be heard. ‘Suffragette Suffragette’ leaves guitars on the ground and three part harmonies filling up every cavern of the chapel. A series of orchestra heavy tracks follow, showcasing front man Jonathan ‘Everything’’s vocals where they had been previously disguised within the electric sounds of ‘Man Alive’.

The highlight of the night is ‘Photoshop Handsome’, one of the band’s earliest efforts. Lyrically one of the most astounding things you’ll ever hear and with an added orchestra it makes it just about one of the best songs I’ve ever seen. It’s the song that has been most edited by the ensemble and begins with a previously unheard string introduction. It begins very minimalistically before turning into a crescendo of violins and cellos. A moment of silence before the signature introduction is taken over by the brass section and gradually one of the finest live events of the season comes together and everyone watches in wonder. It’s a melee of sound that you would never think could create such an incredible musical combination.

Even though the Man Alive Ensemble show sold out, it was broadcast live on iPhones, iPads and computers everywhere. Speaking with Jonathan after the show he said ‘It was strange thinking that people are watching this all the way around the world, or more likely just some people up in Scotland.’ He may just be being modest but after witnessing what I believe to be one of the best live shows in a long time, it is not going to be long until Everything Everything are not just being watched on mobile phones, but playing live around the world too.

Rating: *****