CRYSTAL FIGHTERS, HMV INSTITUTE, BIRMINGHAM, 23rd March '11

UNSURE as to whether there were sound problems or not, as I walk in to the middle of London based JOYOUS's set it seemed as though the band had confused the crowd with audio-challenged pensioners, resulting in ten decibel shouting which reached its peak [vocally] during a song starting at the wrong pitch and remaining so for the majority of the song. That being said, the the crowd seemed to be won over by their youthful passion and clear love for the stage.

I was therefore pleasantly surprised when London's own Get People kicked off with something that can only be described as what The Knife sexing up Hot Chip in Herculese and Love Affair's van would sound like, but with more smiles on account of the highly excitable guitarist.  Creating seriously contageous synth pop sprinkled with shakes from the best percussive instrument I think I've ever seen: a pineapple maracca, this outift are as tight as Kate Moss' leather trousers as well as being really rather good.  Stand Out Song of the night: Careless which you can listen to here HERE

Get People: Always on the hunt for Pineapples

At this point, and having only just realised that Get People were not in fact the headline act, on step Crystal Fighters, a bizarre visual feast of people who seemed to have been picked from an 'opposite band' convention.  True to their appearance, the set went from sounding like Jamie T at a Carnival in Brazil, moving to KOL, Britney Spears and back to England with a completely unpredicted dubstep interlude during Swallow, which was followed by the wildy popular homage to electro I Love London.  Needless to say I was confused when it began and remained confused until it ended; excusing that, the band clearly have pulling-power and succeed in getting pretty much everyone involved.  Special mention must go to the Humpty Dumpty-esque light that was seen to be flashing throughout on the right of the stage next to the semi-naked guitarist.

Humpty's a bit camera shy

All in all an eyeopener of a gig.
I'd see Get People again purely for the pineapple maracca, and i'd see Crystal Fighters just in case they bring back Michael Jackson from the dead.

www.myspace.com/crystalfighters

www.myspace.com/joyousb

www.myspace.com/getpeople