gig review >> the boxer rebellion >> heaven, london >> 10.03.11
on thursday night the boxer rebellion thrilled a sell-out crowd at heaven, london with a choppy set alternating between their timid builders to the out and out indie rock they’ve packed three albums with. watched by a diverse crowd including the die-hards, the post ‘cold still’ newies and a bunch of tourists keen to ”catch a gig in london” the reception to the band and their stop start set was raptuous. the band themselves seemed almost humbled to be entertaining such a packed crowd, a refreshing sight to see.
the boxer rebellion delivered a set for fans, old, new and foreign with the tip-toeing pin drops of ‘harm’ and ‘doubt’ complimented by the knee jerking ‘step out of the car’ and ‘the runner’. nathan’s voice was pitch perfect, while todd’s on stage guitar exploits gave those at the front a sense of the enjoyment this band have in playing live and delivering their music to such an audience. older songs such as ‘flashing red light means go’ and ‘semi-automatic’ received the raucous applause they deserved while signature tune ‘watermelon’ ended their pre-encore set with sing-along chorus “inside, outside, inside your love” still ringing long after they had left the stage.
worryingly, two girls next to me compared the lighter numbers to the head wobbling david gray, but laughing off such a comparison i returned home, smiling, buzzing and in a rush to fill my ears with some more from the band. despite a relatively long set, their sound never tired and the rings of the rebellion were left swirling in my head well into the night.
9/10
the boxer rebellion played:
step out of the car
organ song
cowboys and engines
flashing red light means go
locked in the basement
caught by the light
if you run
evacuate
memo
both sides are even
spitting fire
the runner
misplaced
semi-automatic
doubt
watermelon
---
no harm
cause for alarm
gospel of goro adachi
