Afflecks Palace: Islington Assembly Hall

 Afflecks Palace, although headlining, were dealt a tough hand by label mates Pastel. So stark was Pastels’ performance, Afflecks had to work overtime to whip the crowd back up. Hard work is what Afflecks Palace lives for though. Running the label Spirit of Spike Island, producing records, writing records, artwork, and designing merch. They must be the hardest-working band in the UK!

Images courtesy of the Adrian Lee.

What might have taken some bands half a set to recover, they did by track three ‘Spinner’. The paisley guitars were drenched in floral glory. As sweat and booze fell to the floor, souls were released into a kaleidoscope of bliss.  

‘We Can Be The Avalanche’ went up a notch from the album. Pete Darling’s basslines darker and broodier alongside Pete Redshaw’s devastatingly destructive drumming took their clarion call to dizzying new heights!

In James Fender, the band has the humble icon the UK scene has sorely missed for some time. Fender looks like us, dances like us, and he is here to save us all! Proving to the world men in bucket hats are full of love and not to be avoided, he danced like it was 1988 apace with his ethereal baggy vocals. Watching him effortlessly groove across the stage to the sun-drenched ‘Pink Skies’ or explode into life on ‘Calling All Cars’ was nothing short of poetic.

With new songs ‘I’m So Glad You’re On Ecstasy’ and ‘Big Fish Small Pond’ sounding equally as dynamic, the future looks incredibly bright.