Wednesday 13 January 2010

Support:
Wave Machines
 

 Remember Ok Go? That band that did the amusing videos with the treadmills and the dance routines? Well they are back with a new album, a lengthy five years after the last one, and I went down to the Shepherds Bush Empire last week to check them out.

 

The support act were Wave Machines, a kind of art-rocky band from Liverpool. They probably played quite good music, but I was too distracted by the lead singers bizzare moustache and the bassists funky dancing to really notice! There wasn’t a sudden influx towards the bar at any rate, so they can’t have been too bad. But it was clear by the screams and the row of rabid fangirls at the front which band everyone was here for.

 

Ok Go took to the stage at 9:30pm sharp, dressed in slick matching suits and opening with their hit songs “Get Over It” and “Million Ways To Be Cruel”. The crowd were loving it from the start and when the band moved onto a new song, “White Knuckles”, they didn’t let up with their enthusiasm. A massive blast from a paper cannon behind the drum kit showered the place in confetti and it was a wonderful sight to see everyone dancing in the middle of it.

 

The new songs were well received and although they sound quite different from the last albums fares, I feel the newer funkier approach is definately a step in the right direction. They slotted older songs into the setlist effortlessly and “Here It Goes Again” (complete with treadmill-based visuals) and “A Good Idea At The Time” went down a treat. In the middle of the set, they put down their instruments and proceeded to play an entire song on handbells, complete with harmonic vocals. Not something you would expect from a normal gig, but they pulled it off perfectly and the audience were left in awe. (I actually saw a couple in front of me turn to each other and exclaim “That’s awesome!”; such is the power of Ok Go)

 

They ended the main set with another new one, “This Too Shall Pass”, which saw frontman Damien leap into the crowd and encourage everyone to sing along with him. We were all disappointed to see them leave the stage, only for them to return a few minutes later with flashing logos emblazened on their jackets and furry, LED covered guitars for the encore. On any other band this might have verged into a parody, but they kept it perfectly tongue-in-cheek with their unique brand of wit and humour.

 

The band saved the best for last, ending the night with new single “WTF” and fan favourite “Invincible”, leaving the roaring crowd begging for more. It really was a glorious night and certainly not what I was expecting! If you get the chance, go see Ok Go live, you won’t regret it.