Gig Review: Stagecoach/ Johnny Foreigner

Bands: Stagecoach/ Johnny Foreigner

Date: 25th November

Venue: Camden, Barfly

Sometimes a gig just works.The stars align perfectly and everything feels a bit special. Camden Barfly has been lucky to hold many an important gig in the past. They will have struggled to surpass the night Stagecoach and Johnny Foreigner tore the house down. The Alcopop stablemates came together to entrance an exuberant crowd with their expansive set lists. Currently on a nationwide tour, these two bands compliment each other perfectly. The indie pop fun of Stagecoach perfectly juxtaposes the defiant rip-roaring sound of Johnny Foreigner. The end result ws a crowd who left looking like they had all been running across the Sahara. Sweaty, worn out, hoarse. The one difference being that every face was sporting quite a large grin. And not near death.

I must give a shout out to The Neat too. Coming on as the opening act, these lads from Hull whetted the appetite of the audience. Their indie pop, perfectly put across by the vocal, really got the place moving in time for Stagecoach. Stagecoach are really developing a following. I have seen them twice in little more than three months now and you can feel a difference , a greater social acceptance. Song lyrics are sang joyously, people bounce around like pin-pong ball, it is quite a sight. Their set was impeccable, lively and loud. The vocals and instrumental play was wonderful throughout the set. I must say, front man Luka could have the best yell in music. The choruses of Stagecoach tracks feel anthemic. Highlights of the set were their better known songs. We Got Tazers really got a stirr out of the live crowd. The hypnotic guitar play created a wonderful canvas for Luka to lay lyrics down on. Hieroglyphics, complete with wolf howls, is a rollercoaster of poppy fun. Taken in live, its a joy to hear the crowd sing along to the chorus. The atmosphere of their set was at fever pitch when the performed Good Luck With your 45. Assisted by members of Johnny Foreigner, this song was the high point of their set. Buy this point, Stagecoach had the crowd in the palm of their hands. It was a fitting end to a wonderful set which led to me wondering just why this band are not already in the charts. This was a headline worthy performance from a band who were not headlining. Headling the gig was Johnny Foreigner. They did not disappoint.

The Birmingham trio absolutely wowed the Camden crowd with their chaotic noise pop. Foreigner were at their fast and frantic best. The guitar play was aggressive, the drums beaten mercillessly, the vocals on point. This combination led to a lively amount of moshing. Not just kids, 45 year old men were getting involved. You would go a long way to hear a band whose sound is far more raucous and ear-blowingly powerful than Johnny Foreigner. Frontman Lexi perfectly commanded the stage, leading crowd sing alongs like an angry punky choir. Kelly and Lexi exchanged vocals over beastly levels of sound that literally, Literally made the floor shake. The shouty Feels Like Summer caused fans to flail wildly. With Who,Who, And What I’ve Got shows the more sensitive side of JoFo but exploded into what we know and love.Downright atmpsheric punky musical chaos. New track Tru Punx was very well recieved by a crowd who were excited to hear new material. This was an epic feeling set. Johnny Foreigner completely dominated the crowd with their youthful defiance and delivery. It was the perfect cap to a wonderful gig.

I have spoken for far, far too long. In case none of you believe me, here are pictures. In them, you will see a man who was in Gavin and Stacey and a famous DJ. Oh, and a band frontman. See if you can spot them.