London trio Theme Park make a fizzing return to the touring scene and our lives with their happy-go-lucky brand of indie pop - only this time with added synth and snare.
The cool, calm and collected nature of the Nordic countries emanates through the restaurant and bar of Oslo, a venue - unsurprisingly - inspired by the lives lived by our oft fashionable, bearded friends that once upon a time - more surprisingly - served as Hackney’s railway station. Whilst the live music space is upstairs, the gig goers, hungry food orderers and unquenched beer drinkers all have one common feeling: a near-frenzied sense of anticipation.
First on stage, though, is Moondude. The south London six-piece soon prove that despite the almost angst-encouraging excitement sending waves throughout the filling room, they have totally got this. Quickly showcasing their love and expertise of shoegaze-tinged strings with a Real Estate ease, the opener unexpectedly turns to an edgier guitar-driven chorus which has more bite than one perhaps would have given the band credit for. The vocals are reminiscent of a Julian Casablancas that didn’t have the ability to give a fuck, nevermind having any to give, whilst the cheery keys hark back to a trip to the seaside in an all-round better time. Despite recent single ‘Displaced’ addressing how none of us really know how to feel or where to look, the contrast of the nonchalant hazy guitars and steely baritone vocals allow the audience to mirror the band in bobbing along nicely in thinking that we all just might be okay.
Given they’ve been out of our lives for a consequently long, rainy four years, it’s no wonder headliners Theme Park have a little fun with the sense of prospect felt throughout the room. Taking the stage with heaven-like pulsing lights, smoke machine and choir chills, lead vocalist Miles is displaying his highly impressive vocal range and dancing skills from the off, backed by the jungle beats of ‘Tonight’. The way in which the band’s style and passions have evolved with the recent release of follow-up album Is This How It Starts? becomes quickly apparent as Marcus ditches his bass in favour of the multiple dance-inducing keys on latest single ‘10AM’. The band are clearly enjoying this turn towards the dancefloor as all three sing along even when they don’t need to, grooving throughout. The idea that they are a band at ease with themselves comes through during ‘Jamaica’; no band member is outshining another, they are simply allowing the song they so simply and collectively crafted together do its thing, much to the crowd’s contentment. ‘Dancing With The Other Girls’ is a high point as the trio let the tour drummer bring the party to the evening as his snares deliver as close to a “drop” as the happy-go-lucky band get.
Revealed to Clash as Miles’ favourite song to perform live and whilst it is admirable for him to reveal the nostalgia he feels towards the yearned-for times he spent with his nearest and dearest who have since departed him for sunnier climes, sadly the intricacies and quick-time guitars that so make the studio-version of ‘LA (Is Stealing My Friends)’ are converted only to a fuzzy, indistinguishable blur in a live setting. ‘Cocoon’ belies the intimacy of tonight’s venue as it provides several moments worthy of drawing far bigger crowds (and their lighters with them, if this was still a thing) to far bigger venues. One particular moment during ‘Wax’ embodies the spirit of both the band and the evening beautifully: acting as the song’s bridge, the three spend just a few moments riffing off and complementing the musical wares one another is producing. They do so in an optimistic, light hearted, understated and unmistakably Theme Park way.
8/10
Published on: Raw Meat
