Django Django at Koko

Probably not the best gig I have been to, but that is not to denigrate Django Django. I arrived nice and early to get a spot right at the front and settled in for the long wait to the support act, Roller Trio. Who were not worth the wait at all. Imagine an orchestra warming up. That gives you a decent idea of what they were like. The metaphor is particularly appropriate because the trio were clearly all very capable musicians. Just the result was a mess. The lack of a vocalist made it worse. Just sax, electric guitar and drums. As far as anything replaced vocals as the "accent" of the trio it was the drummer. As I say clearly very able, as was the saxophonist James Mainwaring, whose talents with good stuff became clear when he joined Django Django later. Of course this probably just reflects my taste and if you are into Jazz you are probably used to this meandering stuff. But not me.

On to the main course. Now musically one fair criticism of Django Django is a lot of their stuff sounds quite similar. They lack real stand-out tracks. But then they do sound different from everyone else, and if you like this jangly guitar stuff (as I do) then similarity between tracks is no great hardship. Their new album, Born Under Saturn is very listenable.  And while not having the greatest stage presence, this Irish combo are not too bad in that department either. My only real gripe with their performance had nothing to do with them at all really.

It was the lighting. This is not something upon which I would normally comment - good lighting enhances a show, but one doesn't generally notice it too much, and its not what you go for (with possible exception of acts like the Chemical Brothers). But the problem here was that they were constantly back lit, and much of the lighting came from truly blinding low placed lights behind the band, often flashing in one's eyes. the overall effect was that one hardly got a good look at the band's faces, half the time one was blinded by the light and then the next second the stage was plunged into darkness. It was virtually unwatchable and part of the time I just had to shut my eyes rather than face the alternating dazzling. Epileptics beware. It was really annoying.

Final gripe was exiting the venue. Koko is lovely when half empty. It has a Bohemian charm. But downstairs is, to state the obvious, down two sets of stairs at either side of the rear. They are under lit and just not big enough. It makes for a very slow exit with a very impatient crowd, and when you get to the top you are then hit with the "cross-queue" for the cloakroom. Just not enough exits. really wouldn't fancy our chances in a fire!