You can tell how popular this show is over an hour before doors, just walking past the venerable Kentish Town Forum. There’s a sizeable and excited queue already snaking its way round the side of the venue. Playing for them first is Ashaine White, who somehow manages to mix grunge with soul and make it sound pretty darn good. She certainly gets the crowd in the mood. One to watch for sure.
Bringing their rather glam alt-rock to the stage, Hot Wax ramp up the vibe with an outstanding set. They are clearly enjoying every minute of being here and make the most of a packed-out venue. Debut album ‘Hot Shock’ is flying high, and you can see why it’s so popular. Mix in some well-worked stage moves, and the result is wonderful. It’s beaming faces all around. Hot Wax are genuinely hot stuff.
A hometown show, giving what has been a triumphant tour a proper send-off, can only mean it’s party time for the Nova Twins. They’ve grown immeasurably on their latest record, ‘ Parasites And Butterflies’, and the question of whether the new songs would work with an already impressive back catalogue is answered emphatically. Of course they do. You only have to look at the fans singing along right through what is a statement show to see that. The dynamic duo have grown as artists in every aspect. Their writing is adventurous and their stagecraft sublime. Tonight, they take your breath away. The thing that stands out the most is that the chemistry they had at the beginning is still there. Georgia South is still that jaw-dropping bass genius, Amy Love, still has her sass and that commanding voice. They sound fresh and look so at home on this legendary stage. So much so, you wonder how long before they are doing this in arenas. Not very long is the answer.
Review and Photos by Gary Trueman