We Are the In Crowd at the Roundhouse
With a show of 15 tracks that barely outlasted the 40 minute set up and soundcheck, We Are the In Crowd’s final performance of their UK tour at Camden’s Roundhouse revealed an eager band with strong instrumentals, but in need of more practice to develop their showmanship.
The group opened with the pop punk styling of Cameron Hurley on lead guitar, Jordan Eckes on rhythm guitar, Mike Ferri on bass and Robert Chianelli on percussion. While their intensity and high energy immediately drew the crowd to the centre of the venue, an obvious miscalculation with the sound equipment rendered most of Taylor Jardine’s lyrics inaudible for the first three numbers. Surprisingly, the lack of vocals didn’t seem as important to the crowd who sang along unfazed.
Throughout tracks like Kiss Me Again and On Your Own, Jardine sang away from the microphone during popular lines to allow the audience to continue the lyrics. But the crowd’s chants were unclear and this interruption to the routine left you with the sense that the equipment was repeatedly cutting out. Putting these flaws aside, We Are the In Crowd fans are responsive and noisy, throwing their hands up and lifting their lighters into the air when directed to do so.
While the band’s enthusiasm for performing was evident in every headbang and jump off the drum kit, the banter with the audience was artificial, with Eckes yelling out generic, insincere phrases: “You guys look and sound unbelievable,” and “You guys sound sexy!”
Candid moments on stage were limited to specific numbers, but Jardine and Eckes really stood out as they sang We Need a Break. The acoustics together with their vocals were truly evocative of a couple bitterly discussing their relationship. They harmonise well and when you can actually hear her vocals, Jardine comes off strong, self-assured and full of emotion.
Performing material primarily from their first full-length studio album Best Intentions, the band have the attitude and talent to become high class performers but were still missing a certain something that night.
Natasha Fonseka
Photos: Kimmo de Gooijer
For further information and future events visit We Are the In Crowd’s website here.
Watch the video for Kiss Me Again here:
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