The last time I saw Hot Chip the enjoyment was so natural and even slightly unexpected that it was always going to be hard to live up to.
Previous to that time I had listened to the band a lot, but never fully appreciated how good a live prospect or just how many huge sounds songs they have in their arsenal.
Still, tonight is a warmer for bigger things, they’ve announced a gig at the Barras later in the year and their new album, which we hear more than half of tonight, is less than a week away.
Still, somewhat predictably, as it would be for any band, the unheard songs get a weaker reaction from a very mixed crowd who all seem keen to hear the hits.
The searing synths of recent single ‘Huarache Lights’ opens proceedings, and while it has all the ingredients to end up a Hot Chip classic, we don’t really see the crowd kick into gear until the irresistibly quirky and beautiful ‘One Life Stand’ follows.
Indeed the majority of the set, apart from the new numbers, is made up from their last three full lengths; Made In The Dark (2008), One Life Stand (2010), In Our Heads (2012), however it isn’t until the mid point of the set that things start to take off with two of their most commercially successful tracks sandwiching two newbies, as the crowd predictably goes wild for, the music channel bating, ‘Over and Over’ and the ultra loveable, tender electro hit ‘Ready For The Floor’.
Hot Chip are a band that so often get miss-cast, they seem to be the biggest music geeks on the planet, but that’s no bad thing, especially if what they produce is consistently of such high standard; they’re a band that appeal to everyone, people will pick out their little quirky references or just dance along to cowbell enthused, bleep filled hits.
As they leave The Art School with a charging, sing-along cover of Springsteen’s ‘Dancing In The Dark’ we’re left with just a taster of what’s to come; and as those that made it to their set at the Sub Club later would witness, these guys are more than capable of taking in up a notch, as they band display their talents in a completely different but none less impressive way.
Words: Iain Dawson
Photos: Beth Chalmers
