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Live Review: Black Kids & Foals @ iTunes Festival

Black Kids and Foals kick off week two of the iTunes Festival at Camden's Koko. Although musically they have little in common, over the past year or so both bands have been the subject of extreme hypeFoals first drew attention in April 2007 with 'Hummer', and with the endorsement of Skins brought math rock to a public that never even realised they needed it. Since then, they've built up a fervent fan base (most of who seem to be crammed in here tonight) and proved themselves with their Top 5 album "Antidotes". Tonight's set is absolutely breathtaking, a lean performance with taut angular guitars. Every song feels like a modern classic, it makes you wish they'd bring back Top of the Pops, just so they could perform 'Red Sox Pugie' on it every week.

For Black Kids, the jury's still out as to whether they can live up to expectations, with their debut album 'Partie Traumatic' being released the same day as the gig. The hype machine started a year ago with their 'Wizard of Ahhhs' demos EP containing four perfect pop gems including the recent hit "Hurricane Jane". Unfortunately, since then, things have faltered for the quintet and the word on the street is that their album doesn't quite cut it.

The band bound on stage with pure enthusiasm and lead singer, Reggie Youngblood, who in the past has seemed surprisingly aloof on stage for a band that is so joyous and life-affirming on record, is thankfully in an upbeat & frisky mood tonight. The unashamed summery pop of the magnificent 'I'm Not Going To Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You' has surely got to be one of the greatest singles of the year, but though there are some stand outs in the set such as the "Listen To Your Body Tonight" and the Go! Team-like "Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo)", there's little else in their repertoire in the same league as the four songs that promised so much almost a year ago.

Marv Hills