Only Real at the Lexington

What is better than celebrating the boring and trivial St Valentine’s Day? But of course, a gig from the band Only Real. Seriously, instead of being a boring couple with a tedious dinner inside an anonymous restaurant, whoever picked up the Only Real gig on Friday did the right thing. This was a Valentine’s gift of happiness.

Niall Galvin and his band Only Real are one of the best things to have happened to the music industry in the last few years: a white retro hip hop explosion of colour and disruptive energy. It is a pleasure to note that there are still people who can enjoy and have fun in music and life; Galvin is one of these people. At the Lexington in Angel, at the NME party on 14^th of February, Galvin promoted his psychedelic machine onstage, with an audience amused by his vitality and vigour. Tracks like Cinnamon Toast, Cadillac Girl, Backstreet Kissers and Blood Carpet are only a few titles of the several songs Galvin played at the venue, all of them with enjoyment and entertainment.

A guitarist, a bass player, a drummer and Galvin on guitar/voice played for an hour, their white rap in the shade of De La Soul, Outkast with some English references such as King Krule and The Streets – but these references are somewhat arbitrary as his music is very personal and innovative. There is something of his mood and attitude that really makes a hit: it is the joy of living, the happiness of life and the wonder of being young. The audience answered to this passion with great fun, dancing, engaging and flirting with the band during the whole gig, thanks to the energy of the boys onstage.

Lorenzo Cibrario
Photo: Lorenzo Cibrario

For further information and future events visit Only Real’s website here.

Watch the video for Get It On here: