Skaters at Oslo Hackney
10pm on Thursday evening and half an hour after the show was scheduled to start, Skaters trudged onto the stage with a too-cool-for-this attitude. The boys, who formed the band across countries in 2011, discovered New York and New York (in the form of Warner Brothers Records) certainly found them. Skaters have a habit of rolling from genre to genre without committing enough to be linked to any, which naturally makes them incredibly appealing. Their new offering Rock and Roll Bye Bye is a dreamy, pastel-hued trip through 70s and 80s rock with nods to reggae and Britpop.
Through the messy flashing of coloured lights the band got into their stride, giving their fans a performance they would have hoped for. From their 2014 debut album MANHATTAN the band played a plethora of recognisable, catchy songs. I Wanna Dance [but I don’t know how] blasted out at the crowd, sending everybody wild and forcing a small head bop out of even the most reserved of followers. The punchy beats and twangy vocals worked a treat in the spacious loft of the Hackney venue. Deadbolt, another favourite, was well received and met with a good measure of ridiculous dancing.
The atmosphere was consistent and, at points, electric – a lone crowd surfer appeared briefly over the heads of the audience. The band finished up with tracks from the new EP, the highlight being the clashy, distinctive sound of Flip Flip Flip. The gig came to an end with a casual “Cheers London” and the crowd piled out with a sense of satisfaction and excitement.
With the majority of the audience being doll-faced, vintage-wearing teenage girls, and following their recent tour with Ratboy, Skaters have accumulated a strong following that, with the release of Rock and Roll Bye Bye, puts them in a promising position this year.
Lottie Eustace
For further information about Skaters and future events visit here.
Watch the video for Head On To Nowhere here:
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