Down in the bowels of the good ship Thekla, five-piece Hollywood band Iglu & Hartley bounded onto the tiny stage to a raucous audience. The guitarist (Simon Katz) and lead singer Jarvis Anderson, vied with the bassist (Micheal Buucher) for a piece of the action as he leaned into the crowd swaying his guitar like a lightning rod in the hands of Zeus.
These flamboyant artists describe their unique sound as “a genre blending, culture defying laser-show, with synths, raps, explosive hooks, and colourful bridges.” Sadly, the small venue didn’t lend itself to the electronic soundfest resonating from the band; a larger venue would have enhanced the overall experience greatly. But, one of several highlights included a mid-set rendition of their first UK single ‘In This City’.
Anderson and Katz rapped along to the electro-beats like Eminem sieved through some Daft Punk, but were overpowered by the screaming hordes who seemed to enjoy themselves despite some initial wavering from Thekla regulars, who soon realised that they had nothing to fear from this emerging band.
By the end of the energy fuelled 45 minute set, the entire band was jumping around topless in a Red Hot Chilli Peppers style frenzy, with bassist Buucher doing a very good Flea impersonation. Obviously revelling in excitement and hormones, the band invited all the ladies in the audience to dance on stage with them for the last song of the night, ‘The Pajama Song’. I bet it was fun backstage that night!
Iglu & Hartly’s new album And Then Boom is out now.
www.myspace.com/igluandhartly
WORDS: Sophie Pollard & John Barker
