Band: Lower Than Atlantis
Support: Blitz Kids and The Xcerts
Venue: O2 Academy Shepherds Bush
Date: 25/04/2013
Lower than Atlantis have already toured latest album ‘Changing Tune’ less than six months ago so this time needed to be bigger on all accounts. And without going completely unrealistically mental Shepherds Bush is as big as they get.
Opening the night are Blitz Kids who fit perfectly into the hands of the Lower Than Atlantis fans; their upbeat sound, pop-punk beats and energy is a sight. Their riffs sound through the venue with every note and despite the sound not being quite high enough the crowd are a sea of bobbing heads. Before breaking into sing-a-long ‘Warrior’ front man Joe James tells a story behind the track of standing up for yourself against bullies or non believers. Blitz kids warm up Shepherds Bush perfectly.
Main support tonight came from The Xcerts– their set was a riff filled twenty minutes filled with strong vocals and a beautiful sound. Musically they don’t seem to interest all that much of the crowd as the movement is minimal; but maybe everyone’s saving their energy for Lower Than Atlantis?! Fortunately the strength of the bands songs mean that those who know this band can still enjoy them even if the rest of the crowd are completely indifferent.
It’s the time everyone has been waiting for. As the curtain drops and the guitars begin Lower Than Atlantis emerge to ‘Love Someone Else’. The band are ready to pull out every trick in the book with smoke canons and plenty of energy; it’s just such a shame that not enough people are crammed into the venue to truly appreciate the wonder of how far this band have come.
They play something for everyone spanning every release they’ve ever done from recent tracks such as ‘PMA’ right through to a melody consisting of ‘The Juggernaut’ and ‘Taping Songs of the Radio’. There’s something for every Lower Than Atlantis fan from the hardcore kid who saw them play Watford about seven years ago to the kids here who only heard them on Radio 1 last year. Regardless of your love for this band it’s clear they love what they are doing: Mike even cracks a smile during the show!
Confetti explodes perhaps a bit prematurely as Mike takes to the stage alone for ‘Mike Duce’s Symphony No11 In D Minor’ and ‘Another Sad Song’ prompting a lot of sing-a-long’s and waving arms. It’s points in the set like now where the true nature of Lower Than Atlantis comes out. There aren’t all about stupid jokes and rude antics, they are an honest raw band with plenty of obvious talent. And Mike Duce’s voice sounds the best we’ve ever heard it tonight!
After a quick pop off and back on again the band re-enter the stage to some familiar sounding riffs. Taking a few seconds to click it appears to be Electric Six’s ‘Gay Bar’ which plays perfectly into closing track ‘Deadliest Catch’. With plenty of chants, cheering and screaming it’s clear that Lower Than Atlantis are doing everything right!
They may not have sold out the venue but as the band stated ‘Fuck It To The Man’. Tonight has been a true showcase that Lower Than Atlantis are one of the most popular bands on the British rock scene at the moment and soon enough people will realize what they missed out on!
9/10
Reviewer: Rhian Westbury
Photographer: George Powell
