@The Lexington,Angel,London

2013 was undoubtedly the year of guitar music’s comeback, meaning not that guitar music ever left us, but there was nothing new out there for a while. Yet in 2013 we witnessed the rise of guitar music from new or existing acts (like Jake Bugg, Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire…). So when a friend mentioned the name Lola Colt with a description as weird as psychedelic pop cinematic guitar music, I was curious to see if 2013 was hiding another surprise in guitar music.

Lola Colt is a London- based band who rehearses twice a week in Stoke Newington, confirming East London is musically happening strong. Their name sounds like a show animal but it’s after a 1967 spaghetti western film, with all clichés included. Their soundcloud page includes five songs with the older one Diamonds dated 10 months ago. Their newest tracks Jackson and Time to Burn are included in their second single named Jackson which was released on the 2^nd of December. It is this same single’s release that the band celebrated last Tuesday night at the Lexington.

I haven’t been on the first floor of The Lexington before, and I really liked the venue. It is a very intimate venue with a red light spread all around making you feel comfortable and relaxed. There was a great mixture of people around and although the night was officially sold out, there was plenty of room for each one of us to stand and enjoy the gig.

The opening act was Neils Children a London band with four members (guitar/vocals, bass, drums, keyboards). Their sound (I really don’t like genre tags but something like indie-psychedelic-pop-rock) was interesting although I would prefer them with no vocals, not as without the vocalist/guitarist and co-creator of the band, but as in music with no lyrics and less responsibility to the guitarist. I really believe that this idea would help him, as he seemed distracted during most of the performance, while the rest of the time he was trying to perform all the tricks he has learnt in guitar and demonstrate all the skills acquired during many years at once. Interesting bass line and ideas though.

And then three guys and three girls took over the stage and I couldn’t help finding myself being attracted to all of them, men and women.  Their sound was warm and seductive and her voice is powerful and full of emotions.  I found myself remaining thoughtless, which never happens, for several minutes. I was just listening to them, just watching them, just enjoying the moment. The multi-coloured lights on their faces along side with their powerful performances created a great psychedelic atmosphere. The one that doesn’t require acid consumption in order to be enjoyed.

I knew I was watching a great performance by great musicians and their individual body language said that they were all enjoying it as much as we were.  Deep, emotional sound with brilliant alterations. I can definitely detect their influence from Nick Cave, as when I saw him a couple months ago performing with the Bad Seeds I remember having very similar reactions. The quality and the time spent behind their sound make them as professional as Nick Cave. It was the next day that I found out that their album will be produced next year by Jim Sclavunos, current member of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Grinderman.

Although I am looking forward to seeing them perform on an outdoor stage with much more space for them to move, I consider myself lucky to be one of the few that saw them on this small, intimate stage just before they become famous.  I don’t know their names, I don’t know the names of their songs but I know this, I absolutely loved them. You have to catch them live.

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