Champs at The Stillery

Folk-pop two-piece Champs are brothers Michael and David Champion – two boys from the Isle of Wight who started making music after their dad brought an old guitar home from a charity shop. Since those days, the two have released an album, had their music featured on Australian soap Home and Away and had one of their music videos (St Peter’s) shortlisted for a massive international music video festival in Paris. It’s been an incredible year for the duo, and we couldn’t help but stop by for a rare performance at The Stillery to see for ourselves why Champs are the talk of the town.

Champs’ influences were clear the minute they started playing: a combination of Californian 60s psychedelic pop and melancholy folk, which made for a refreshing, modern sound with an authentic feel.

The relatively upbeat, shimmery My Spirit Is Broken had the audience swaying and singing along with the yearning lyrics “don’t be the reason why it’s cold in my heart”, and the Kentish Town crowd were in awe after a performance of the new single Desire. The brothers’ vocals weaved in and out of each other in perfect harmony, in an almost Simon & Garfunkel fashion that was both haunting and comforting.

Sometimes we heard the Mamas & the Papas and other times the Bee Gees – but the brothers always added something that was uniquely modern and unmistakably theirs, whether via lush electronics or pulsating drum beats.

Festively melancholic, tonight’s one-off performance left the audience wanting more from the Champs brothers – and we’re sure we’ll be hearing a lot more from them next year, when they release their second album.

Gemma Whitfield
Photos: Erol Birsen

For further information about Champs and future events visit here.

 

Watch the video for My Spirit Is Broken here: