Minor Alps at The Islington

Wait a minute: did we inadvertently travel back to the 1960s – the hippy period influenced by the Beats, folk, rock and Woodstock? Is it that time when the young and frustrated want to break away and be free from the norms of the nuclear family and join the popular sub-culture? Whosoever felt that bittersweet sense of nostalgia was probably a few ales deep, getting lost in a trance that was more of a 21^st century version of all that at The Islington last night.

Minor Alps, a duo consisting of Juliana Hatfield and Matthew Caws, perform music reminiscent of Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, and even Neil Young, with a twist of country and rock. The band had great chemistry while performing onstage at The Islington, with wonderful vocal harmonies and acoustic guitar, in front of a small, peaceful crowd. Throw in a little bit of Korg synth and you get some Bon Iver-esque influence that shows a more creative and artistic side to Minor Alps. The crowd was very receptive – wonderful to witness – with Caws witty and comical while talking between songs.

Their live performance is a pleasant alternative to the studio stuff, as they have a full band behind them in the recordings and a little bit of a heavier sound. This was the perfect gig to enjoy before the sun went down on Sunday evening, helping to erase the thought of the long working week ahead.

A pleasant set – it should leave the crowd feeling great come that Monday morning commute.

 Joe Hoffman

For further information and future events visit Minor Alps’ website here.

Watch the video for There’s No Going Back here: