As a former musician I’ve trawled the venues on and around Camden High Street dozens of times in my career. But being asked to review CC14 – as the Camden Crawl has been rebranded this year – meant it was nice to be the one doing the watching for a change.
Its return on a perfect summer weekend – the sun illuminating the thoroughfare from the Roundhouse all the way down to KOKO – provided a winning excuse to see a bunch of other young hopefuls pray to God that they fill the room.
And that summed up the festival this year, with its quiet emphasis on “discovering” new bands: a distinct lack of current “names” meant that it was easier to move between venues than on previous Crawls, and there were fewer queues.
Of course it was still nigh on impossible to see everyone (there were 200+ acts in total) – and I missed many of the bigger acts like Of Montreal, Atari Teenage Riot, Dry The River (pictured, above) and ABC – so what follows is simply a personal rundown of highlights from the weekend.
And if that’s not enough, editor Stephen Emms offers his own round-up too.
Friday June 20
1. PAWS
Photo: Narcin
My first stop? A group of three Glaswegians who are at the Underworld to play punk, pure and simple, although really there is something deeper to their music. Likened to acts such as the Misfits or even Biffy Clyro, their set gives off a distinct air of early Weezer. With songs this solid, and an enjoyable raucous performance all-round, this Crawl’s off to a good start.
2. Van Susans
I headed for the five points of Camden to see what emerging sounds would grab my ear. This band at Camden Eye won, their intimate crowd already clapping and cheering by the time I arrived. The six-piece play a breed of alt-folk, reminiscent of new ones-to-watch bands like the Mispers, with an ace-looking female violinist and the happiest bass player ever.
3. Girls Names
I hotfooted it to catch an act at Proud who evoked a sound similar to Leeds post-punk band Eagulls. The crowd was a little thin, as with many of the gigs on the Friday, but there was a real sense amongst those present that we were lucky to catch these guys. I highly recommend checking out their album, The New Life.
4. Sophie
To round off the Friday night, it was time to dance. The Jazz Café beckoned next, with an artist who, to my surprise, was not the girl who featured on the album’s cover artwork. In fact, Sophie is not a girl at all; there are rumours that he is Scottish or Irish; I think he’s a Dubliner personally, though this may just be down to the fact that he has red hair – worn in a sort of half-shaved Skrillex style.
5. The Field
But still, Sophie didn’t quite provide the climax of the night; that job was left in the hands of minimal techno artist The Field at the Electric Ballroom afterwards. Between the two, however, this reviewer went home happy, tired and looking forward to round two.
Saturday June 21
1. Nick Brewer
Time for some hip hop. And who better than a newly signed Island Records quartet at iconic Parkway venue Jazz Café? Brewer delivers, with his band both looking the part and providing everything he needs to drop his flow on. He shifts between more honest sentimental tracks and full-on bangers with Dizzee Rascal and Jay-Z samples; the finale is met with rousing applause. Good stuff.
2. Joel Baker
The quality at the Jazz Cafe goes from strength to strength with singer-songwriter Baker, surrounded by a very interesting array of session musicians, from his cajon player to his cellist.
3. Crushed Beaks
Now the clock is nearing 9pm and there are way more acts and venues to check out. It’s decision time though – Steve Mason at Koko or Crushed Beaks at the Black Heart. I’ve been listening to the latter’s Break Down single on repeat lately, and so they prove irresistible. Theirs proves the best set of the weekend: unlike the acts that seen so far, there are no call to arms for participation from the crowd. Fun, not too forceful, good banter. By the end, this young trio have everyone in the Black Heart’s top room dancing, shaking their heads and leaving any too-cool-for-school inhibitions at the door.
4. GAPS
The Lock Tavern is one of my favourite haunts of Camden, and so I arrive in time for GAPS. Rachel and Ed from Brighton play a sort of mix between London Grammar-esque trip-hop and folk. It’s magical, the audience soon on board as singer Rachel hops around the stage, moving from guitar-playing to singing to banging out some electronic beats.
5. Little Simz
For those unfamiliar with Beatrice, you’d be forgiven; it was previously the Wheelbarrow and before that Tommy Flynn and a dozen other names. Little Simz takes to the stage to deliver an altogether dark, more sinister breed of hip hop. Recognisable to some as one of the cast members of E4’s Youngers, she has the goods here; not bad for a nineteen-year old, and an interesting final act to catch in what, this year, is an eclectic event.
Editor’s Top 5: our pick of the acts
Steve Mason. KOKO was not nearly busy enough for the former Beta Band star, but we nonetheless enjoyed the highlights of his 2013 album Monkey Minds, some crowd-pleasing anti-capitalist banter, and, finally the removal of his shades for the last song.
Big Deal. Our only queuing experience of the night was at the Black Cap for this London-based duo who hark back to early 90s acts like Slowdive. He was sweating buckets, she was like all elegance and sweetness. Lapped up by the capacity audience too; a real weekend highlight.
Rainer. Knowing melodic electro pop by a boy-girl duo who filled the Beatrice with both the fanatic and the curious. Most likely candidates for the charts too.
Photo: Jose Berjaga
Alexis Taylor. Downbeat but thoughtful side-project from the Hot Chip vocalist, who played to a packed studio theatre at the Roundhouse.
Dirty Beaches. Energetic Camden Town Brewery performance from Canadian musician Alex Hungtai to an entranced crowd soaking up the evening sun. Stephen Emms
What were your highlights?
