Review: Django Django, Strange Brew – ‘Sublime indie ecstasy’

After a long day with anything and everything Christmas including a very busy, shiny Christmas market which Is perfectly situated very close to tonight’s sold out Django Django gig at Strange Brew.

Arriving early as ever to catch the support this time coming from Low Island. A new band to me, but that’s the point of always watching the support, to hear new music, and make discoveries.

This was no different, I was pretty much instantly sold on Low Island as they hit us with heavy bass and catchy electronica.  I could see around me people slowly arriving but quickly getting into the atmosphere Low Island create.

I’m not saying if you like Django Django then you have to like Low Island but I’d be surprised if you didn’t. Low Island seem equally at home in electronica, indie ballads or both simultaneously. They create a groove that is hard to deny.

They are a perfect fit for tonight’s crowd, after speaking to a few people after their set they have definitely gained more fans tonight, me included.

Search Box is  made for a club, it’s made for a full crowd at Strange Brew, this place is now a dance floor. If you can’t dance to this, what can you dance to?

The room is full of energy and the band are clearly enjoying themselves too. A good sign when you have a sweat on from the support.

I seem to have surrounded myself with people who have travelled a long way for this gig, From Oxford to Milton Keynes.

It’s my first proper Django Django gig other than catching them as part of Bristol Sounds supporting Belle and Sebastian last summer. I remember thinking I want to see this band in a small venue, so couldn’t believe my luck when they were announced at Strange Brew.

The band know what they are doing, as they open with Spirals. I’m surrounded by dancers, turning in circles or maybe that was just me. The band hit us with indie dance banger after indie dance banger.

Tic Tac Toe lifts me up and has me marching as I remember the song and how much I love it. The band are full of smiles and moves as Hail Bop drops.

The songs new and old mix into glorious sublime indie ecstasy. I’m singing words I’d forgotten I knew to this one and having a great time.

Fresh from their European tour this was their first date of their UK tour and they were clearly hear to give it their all. The room is now sweaty and full of people letting go and having fun.

They have time to premiere a new song Somebody’s Reality, ‘which may never get released’ (but hopefully will) before then hitting us with a pop onslaught.

Slipstream marches through the air and makes you want to gallop on the spot before morphing into Daft Punk’s 90’s number one classic Around The World.

Understandably the Djangolots (name for Django fans created in The Crown after) are now in raptures as singer Vincent Neff now moves two inches forward to be in the crowd, taking a few fist bumps with him.

Everything about this band I liked on record is magnified live. The set list seems perfectly crafted to make us move as the beat rarely stops as songs merge into one another and form super songs.

The set is near to finishing, so they obviously perform yet another banger, Default.

I think this show was four times as good as I expected, and I expected it to be good. It’s a shame that this gig has to end but Champagne is a fitting way to end it all with rapturous applause and woops ringing all around.

Django Django have turned now from a band I might see, to band I will look to see on each tour. The energy of the crowd and band has got me full invested.

Yet another great gig at Strange Brew.

Main photo: Matt Barnes

Read next:

• Review: The Magpies, The Folk House – ‘Utterly infectious’
• Review: Ida Mae, The Louisiana – ‘Something for everyone’
• Review: Shygirl, Marble Factory – ‘A big camp party’

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