Review: Revelin Sky at Proud Camden, Monday 13th June 2011
An uncannily dark and smoke filled Proud Gallery played host to a swelled, expectant crowd as Monday night saw the return of North London indie rock band Revelin Sky to the cobbled walkways of Camden’s favourite horse stables.
As the band opened with the anthemic ‘Felt This Way’, an impressive array of lights illuminated the four piece and their ever-growing collective of fans and aficionados who had filled the vacuous main room. South American hipsters dominated the immediate area in front of the stage as young denim-clad gals laid forth a rhythmic samba-esque ritual. Lead singer David Kisch was apparently cast in the role of a new age conquistador and the buzz from the crowd suggested he has found some form of musical El Dorado.
The lively introduction kept the room bouncing until lead guitar Ben Stratton-Woodward struck the opening chords to the band’s latest song‘Control’ – a number which show pieced the bands maturing approach to song writing and signals a clear direction which is fleetingly signposted in their earlier work. Carefully crafted poetic verses are punctuated with hell in a handcart choruses which see all four band members abusing the physical limits of their respective instruments. And it works. At times listening intently, at times dancing with wild abandon, the crowd would have been equally at home in a Somerset field as they would sipping beer at an unplugged session in an intimate rabbit hole.
Following an impromptu and unmelodious rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ for an unnamed (conspicuous looking) member of the band, the crowd quit their dreams of a cappella stardom and Revelin Sky took centre stage to showcase three tried and tested songs whose frenetic pace and feel-good lyrics invite more than casual toe tapping. The crowd duly obliged and ‘Found My Head’, ‘Shape’, and forthcoming single ‘Firerain’ found the stables rocking to the sound of stampeding feet. Make hay whilst the sun shines.
Most notably, the bands recent frequency on the London gig scene finds them very tight in these well practiced numbers. Alex Ngo on drums set a thunderous beat throughout and Hugh Stirzaker on bass guitar showed his funk roots have found a home in the hybrid sound of Revelin Sky. The quartet have the feel of a well weathered band and superbly constructed guitar solos are easily mistaken for daring impromptu jamming.
The group finished with ‘Celebrate’ a brilliantly melancholic reminder to embrace the reckless abandon of music. Guitar laden choruses give you every reason to do so, and it’s a stirring and apt finish to what must now be considered a band ready for a first album and the summer festival circuit.
Having crossed paths with this band in their seedling days, I now find a group rubbing shoulders with the best of London’s indie rock talent – a weaving narrative of sound laced carefully throughout their set, dramatic live performances, and a brigade of ever-swelling fans – a position they well deserve if Monday is anything to judge by.
By Caulfield Gatz
14/06/11
