Walk off the Earth at Brixton Academy

Versatile Canadian band Walk off the Earth made its entrance as a huge, explosively eager crowd clapped and cheered. The powerful group sound like warriors on battle drums, and with a multitude of coloured lights and massive shooting smoke, the ambience was very theatrical. The lively performance included several drum sets, three trumpets, keyboards and guitars, and was amplified by explosive special effects such as huge bursts of sparkling confetti and multi-coloured blasts of smoke.

Gold lights shimmered with Sing It All Away, cheers erupted for the favourite Happy and the emotional Hold On. The musicians twirled balloons to Speeches, and after Hello and Cheerleader, guitarist Gianni Nicassio threw a shirt into the audience. Sounding like early Madonna, maybe better, Sarah Blackwood crooned Material Girl, later followed by Shake It Off and Cheers (Drink to That), which were accompanied by abundant arm waving and a guitar tossed across the stage by Nicassio. The super metal rock I Knew You Were Trouble and REVO inspired much jumping by the audience and the artists.

The encore had the crowd chanting “sing it all away,” screaming and clapping, followed by detonations of red smoke and heavy drum beat, with percussion in the foreground – a total of five drum sets. Finally, a medley of Motown and Beatles wrapped up the show.

Combining alternative rock, ska, reggae, and metal (among other styles), Walk off the Earth is eclectic and original, using unusual instruments like the theremin and the ukulele; in fact the range of instruments played by this group is extraordinary. Though the Brixton Academy’s sound system amplified the instrumentals but muffled the voices and lyrics, this was an exciting show by a powerful band – a performance infused with maximum enthusiasm and energy.

Catherine Sedgwick
Photos: Guifré de Paray

For further information about Walk Off The Earth and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Happy here: