Live review: The View at Hoxton Bar and Kitchen, 10/05/12

With their next LP being preceded by the release of a new single in June on their own label Cooking Vinyl, we couldn’t wait to see what the lads had in store…

It was business as usual for The View as they took to the stage at the Hoxton Square Bar, despite the sold out venue full of eager fans chanting “The View, The View, The View are on fire!”

The band, set to release their new album 'Cheeky For A Reason' in July, will be hitting the road for a full UK tour in June - but offered fans a chance to see them in an exclusive one hour gig on Thursday in East London.

By the time lead singer Kyle Falconer coolly graced the stage the fans were itching to hear their favourite hits and Dundee’s Finest swiftly obliged in an eruption of rock ’n’ roll with the track ‘Grace.’ The song was a great opener, immediately loosening the room up, and the punters were with the band every step of the way; drinks in the air, atop each other’s shoulders and screaming the lyrics to the anthemic number.

Backed by unmissable bare chested drummer Steven Morrison, the confident, steadfast Scots veered into other highlights like memorable newer track ‘How Long’ and ‘Underneath The Lights.’

The band’s strongest weapon was the sheer number of restless and immediate rock records that translated well within the intimate venue, and although there were a couple of temporary sound system issues on stage it didn’t dampen the fans energy - and so naturally the show went on.

The set list included other preview tracks from their upcoming album like the rousing ‘Bunker’, and when the band’s bassist Kieran Webster gave lead vocal duties back to the main man himself Falconer after a swap, The View proceeded with another melodic dose from what will be the band’s fourth studio effort.

Falconer recently described ‘Cheeky For A Reason’ as “Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' done by The Clash". Interestingly enough, at one point audience members could be heard comparing these new tracks to the output of the legendary rock band.

However soon the band were back to their old naughty tricks, blasting out tracks like ‘Shock Horror.’ Kyle was in his element as the frontman, making it look easy and powering through various PA system faults by launching into blistering solos, wildly shaking his head from side to side and wiping the sweat from his brow.

The foursome were unaffected by any ruckus in the audience pit and Kyle was unfazed when fans began to spray the stage lightly with beer during The View classic ‘Superstar Tradesman.’ The gaps between songs were filled with light banter, nothing to really connect the group with the fans but judging by the venue’s reaction to ‘Alone’ taken from the group’s ‘Cutting Corners EP’, they didn’t mind.

As the brief night of young, fun rock came to an end with ‘Sunday’, the band thanked the audience, embraced each other and left the stage excitedly to the same chanting that they came on to; “the View, the View, the View are on fire,” leaving the seemingly still hungry fans to drink the rest of the night away.

Words: Samson Pharaoh

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