Report: Health / Gold Panda – Rockfeedback @ The Lexington, London – 26/8/09
By: Jack Bartrop
Last night The Lexington played host to a very hush hush occasion. HEALTH’s eagerly anticipated LP Get Color is out on the 8th of September and only lucky Rockfeedback competition winners and fans that had pre-ordered the album were privileged enough to catch a glimpse of the Los Angeles scenesters do what they do best, in a venue far more intimate than they’d usually play.
Warming up the stage for the main act was Gold Panda. Removed from the bedroom to the more unfamiliar environment of The Lexington; the one man organic electronica show sheepishly admitted into his mic that he was nervous to be sharing the stage with one of his favourite bands. However; sporting a knitted panda hat; he mixed his way through an endearing set of ambient homemade beats to a small yet appreciative audience. A personal highlight was ‘Quitters Raga’; a short and beautifully sweet Asian infused number leaving everyone wanting more. Gold Panda is set to play much bigger venues supporting Simian Mobile Disco in the coming months and if his nerves don’t get the better of him he will surely go from strength to strength.
After an eager wait between acts; HEALTH quietly wandered on stage and a shy introduction silences the room. Quickly breaking the silence and probably the sound barrier; they crash into their opener as if they had been plugged into the mains along with their instruments. Instantaneously jaws drop.
With little break for deserved applause between songs HEALTH burst through their set-list and seemed to enjoy themselves more and more as each song goes on. Lead singer Jake switches mics between melancholic moans and yells; that screech and whoosh, Jupiter screams, bangs and strums in the corner whilst John wriggles with or without his bass as if he is a snake charmed by his own sound.
The most impressive band member to witness however was drummer; BJ. The love child of the Muppet’s Animal and Hulk Hogan leaves the audience feeling sorry for his drums as he smashes and clangs like an angry giant. Seeing the band play was as impressive as listening to them.
HEALTH have admitted to making their new album more accessible to a wider audience, but they still sound like the same band, because they sound like nobody else. The world can only be a better place if there are more HEALTH fans, and tonight proved it.
Artists in this article: Health, Gold Panda