Gig Review: Parachute Youth (LONDON)

Parachute Youth
Friday 7th June, 2013
KOKO, London

On Friday the 7th Of June, Australian duo Parachute Youth took the stage at KOKO in Camden, to share with Londoners what Australian Indie-Electronic music is all about. 

Parachute Youth perform at KOKO in Camden, London. 

The atmosphere was electric, full of energy driven by the performance of Matt and Johnny. Performing on  a stage that has seen everyone from Charlie Chaplin, to Madonna and The Rolling Stones, the boys certainly rose to the occasion with smiles plastered on the faces of hundreds of dancing fans, wall to wall, on all four stories.

Parachute Youth sees Matt mixing it up while John rocks the keyboard and lead vocals (in fact, Matt and John are both on Keys and Matt uses a controller to sequence drums/midi) - which allows John to come out to the front of the stage and really interact and get the crowd going. 

Best known for their hit "Can't Get Better Than This," Parachute Youth took the opportunity to showcase more original material as well as covering Daft Punk much to the pleasure of concert-goers. 

"We're only a two piece but we make a lot of noise..." Aussies Mathew Gill and John Courtidis met at boring house party. They left half an hour later and started working on some tunes. Since they first met, Matt (a former airforce avionics technician – hence the group’s name) and John (a producer/muso in the band Def Starr) signed to Aussie label Sweat It Out (home to Ajax and Yolanda Be Cool).

Johnny from Parachute Youth

Throughout the high energy performance there was a sense of appreciation throughout the venue both and off the stage - the boys themselves saying they were "humbled" at the audiences' positive response.  With a lot of love in the room, all of the tracks performed were so well received that when the boys finished their set with a flawlessly performed "Can't Get Better Than This," we were all left wanting more. 

 Parachute Youth still have a number of shows coming up across Europe and if their KOKO gig was anything to go by I strongly recommend getting along to see them.  Whilst "Can't Get Better That This" and "Count to Ten" are their better known tracks, they are but a small representation of this duo's capability and experiencing the on stage chemistry and performance quality will, if not already one, convert you into a Parachute Youth fan.

Parachute Youth perform to a packed out venue (image: facebook)

I honestly cannot give Parachute Youth any higher praise for this concert.  As far as I could tell in the audience, the show ran smoothly, the sound quality was excellent and the energy was non-stop.  Admittedly, I did see them briefly at last year's Splendour in the Grass Festival at Byron Bay, but this show was truly on another level and if this is where Matt and Johnny are at this early on in their career, I have no doubt we can expect so much more from them in the future, both as individuals and together as Parachute Youth. 

 

For all upcoming tour dates check out Parachute Youth's website.  You can also Follow Parachute Youth on Twitter and Like Parachute Youth on Facebook.

Pre-Order/ Download Can't Get Better Than This - EP

Buskers of London: An Observation

Amy Winehouse once called Camden home

Camden town. A hub for creativity,  music, arts and home of the famous camden lock markets and the home of the late great Amy Winehouse.

This is a place I walk through every working day and on occasions on weekends and I can guarantee you that every time I stroll down that main street there is at least 3 or 4 buskers, rockin' out, doing their thang.  I've seen everything from solo male singers to beat boxers to girls singing soulfully with their guitars to a man with a drumkit a a digereedo.   You can practically smell the love for music in the air - either that or some weed wafting down from one of the apartments above the many many kebap shops.

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And if it is their day off, chances are those musicians have still made their way down to Camden town, to smile and you, ask you what type of music you like and to shove a free cd sampling their work in your face.   Of course, the weekends are when the big guns come out, one band having a regular spot next to Starbucks and before the bridge passes over the canal  into the markets.   Masters of their craft you can see that this is what they live for - sharing their music with every day people.

But it doesn't just stop at Camden Town.

The underground stations throughout London are not only modes of transport but are in fact incredible opportunities to discover and delight in musical talents of people from all walks of life.   On the Picadilly Line a beautiful African girl sings her heart out with the tiniest of radios as her back up music.   On the Central Line outside Holborn station,  a man plays an incredibly eccentric collection of percussion in which he has surrounded himself with in a full 360 degree circle.

The Bakerloo Line hosts two artists with thick I-dont-even-know-what accents, covering acoustic sets of the likes of Crowded House.  Walking by Waterloo you may encounter a gentleman with a sax or perhaps you'll bump into the tuba player near Covent Garden whose tuba on occasion will breathe fire.  it is absolutely incredible to open your eyes and ears to discover this whole other side to London.  The the busy, busy hussle and bussle of this major city, it makes you simply want to stop. and listen.

So why do they do it - why busk? To practice?  to pay the rent? To hope Simon Cowell will walk by and offer them a contract? It could be any of these reasons but the one you cannot deny, is for the love of music.