REVIEW: Bang Bang Eche At Koko In Camden London

Wednesday , 18 Aug 2010

“I’ve had that BBE song stuck in my head all day” says Dan on our way through the grimy florescent corridors of London’s Islington tube station. He’s referring to the opening qwerty in key bass line of Bang Bang Eche’s ‘Time Mismangement’. A catchy tune indeedy.

Though only here a week, Dan knows how to get there. Kokos in Camden’s reputation as the place to see fresh live music in London has been compared to what C.B.G.Bs did for the punk scene in the big apple. I guess it helps that NME Magazine have their international club nights based there too.

The Elctro Indie Rock ‘n’ Roll scene (what a mouthful) is quite healthy here with many parallels to what we’re producing back home in NZ.

I point out to Dan that it was a sick idea to have a polka dot party for Bang Bang Eche’s gig @ Kokos tonight. He looks at me strange, laughs at my polka dot shirt and explains to me that Polka Party are actually a London based Indie band. Pft, I knew that…..I’d checked out their Myspace earlier (kinda ‘angular indie’ sounding). After I bought the shirt that is….

Dan checks out the photo pit area explaining that he has to inspect the workplace. Quite professional. I’ve got more of ‘wing it’ attitude. Quite amateurish. Sorted.

Kokos is massive. Nothing like anything back home. A former theatre, there are two upper landings looking over the dance floor.

Polka party’s set though short, was an eclectic mix of jingly guitars, tight popping bass riffs and protractor vocals. Protractor? Angular was a great descriptive word previously used. Quite stoaked to be given a copy of their recently released Korean Cinema EP afterwards.

The venue then swelled as BBE got up on stage. Dan got behind the huge projector screen which was taking up the whole stage & got some sweet pre gig shots. I don’t think they knew he was there. Sneaky sneaky.

‘We’re Bang Bang Eche and we’re from New Zealand’ Zach says casually opening their set. This is in no way a reflection of the crowd. The kids are alright here. Standing room there is none. They know how to party and BBE is the right catalyst & stimulant in one. A few proud moments were had looking to the crowd and seeing them absolutely lap it up. Half way around the world and these lads and one gal are owning it. Since last seeing BBE @ BFM’s Summer Series in Albert Park in Auckland, Zach’s become noticeably more proficient on his vocal loops and synth. Big fan of this. I guess after 31 european tour dates, the whole band just seem to gel better. I love it how T'NEALLE & Charlie exchange between gat & bass so effortlessly. It wouldn’t surprise me if they just swap randomly depending on how they feel for each song. Earlier in the night Dan & I were talking about how we love drummers playing 16ths. James my man, you nailed it. Solid beats bro. Again, Zach drops ‘we’re from New Zealand’ this time at the fade out of Time Mismanagement. Dan and I give each other the nod and the compulsory line used in a 48hour film comp a few years back comes to mind. ‘That’s what I’m talking about’. I contemplate telling my bro, but there’s no way he’d hear me over the screaming from the crowd. Beatles like screaming. Quite out of it.

Walking through the backstage stairwells is like a labyrinth. Full on! James took me up, down and around then up again what must have been ten flights of stairs just to get outside. Well worth it as he introduced me to a real character of a security guard. ‘One moment lads’ he says calmly as he goes to bash the head in of a couple of door hopers. BBE had had a bit of a security scare earlier when a couple of poms turned up rushing through security saying they’re late for the show and with guitar cases in hand turned up back stage where no one knew them….did I mention their guitar cases were empty? They’d obviously ‘cased out the joint’ earlier. Nice one yeah, nice one.

A few beers had with the team & Polka Party. Stories & music news from across the world exchanged and fun with the continuous self timer on the camera and then it was time to go. Handshakes, hugs, ‘yeah bro’s & ‘hard’s, Looking forward to catching up again soon.

Tu meke show BBE. Quite proud.