Posted on September 17, 2009 - by Editor

Big Hand + New Town Kings + Fight The Bear

Big Hand © Imelda Michalczyk

Barfly
Camden, London
Saturday 12th September 2009
The small Camden venue, is not heaving despite the encouraging line-up. I get to the venue late due to the infamous weekend transport problems in the capital and miss the opening band Fight The Bear.

New Town Kings, who I have not seen for a while and are rumored to have completed their second full length album

take the stage in their nine piece glory. Clad in their uniform of black trousers & ties with white shirts they are a bundle

New Town Kings © Imelda Michalczyk

of fun and play a good set brimming with their eclectic mix of reggae, ska and dub. They very much remind of the classic 2-tone era in the UK and seem to draw from many bands but do have their own vibrant sound and positive skanking vibe. Sadly the atmosphere is a bit drab due to lack of crowd numbers but that does not deter the band who run through their horn fueled set with energy and set the positive pulse for the night.

Big Hand, who I had not seen before, are an interesting band both in sound and stage presence. Their moody and dark ska from bonny Scotland always reminds me of Five Iron Frenzy. It’s danceable and energetic and their presence is explosive on stage mainly through their wild eyed trumpeter Phil who is a spectacle on his own.

Phil- Big Hand © Imelda Michalczyk

They play a great set with eerie vocals but upbeat songs to a crowd that thankfully has grown somewhat although the place is hardly packed. With song a plenty from their most recent record “How About It?” the band are engaging and hypnotic quartet that are unique in the sea of ska bands and their Zorbic touch is a thankful minty breath of fresh air.