The Kixx rock Islington's O2 Academy - 1st September

When it comes to intimate venues, you don't get much more intimate than the O2 Academy in Islington. It's one of those whites-of-the-eyes places, where the music becomes a physical force, where every throbbing guitar string, every beat of the drum becomes part of the spectacle.

And for The Kixx's headline showcase, the place was absolutely packed.

You could tell the fans were out in force from the moment the band walked on stage to a wave of screams of the kind only teen girls worshipping their favourite band seem capable of making.

There was an impressive array of home-made banners and t-shirts held aloft too - all testament to the popularity The Kixx have already garnered for themselves.

And hovering near the bar, a crowd of aging dads, clearly there to chaperone their daughters to and from the gig. Despite looking like they'd be more at home at a Pink Floyd gig though, when the Kixx started playing, it has to be said, this assortment of fathers were digging the music just as much as anyone else there. Wide-ranging appeal The Kixx clearly have in ample amounts.

And in a way, that was what tonight was all about - as well as my personal favourite Already Gone and current single Standing Where You Left Me (both synth-heavy pop-rock stormers), the band took the opportunity to play a range of new tracks more in the vein of We Begin At The End.

The band have previously been compared with the likes of The Script, albeit a far more cheery incarnation, and its a sound that definitely came across tonight in the band's newer material - the sign of a band unveiling their mature side, a befitting new direction for a group that play all their own instruments.

Indeed, in terms of musical ability, The Kixx are faultless - sharing lead vocals throughout the gig and whipping through a range of assorted flashy guitars, you can tell they possess a keen passion for what they do.

Some bands totally come into their own in a live setting, and The Kixx are one of those bands - the movement, the energy, the mutual feedback of it all.

The band even had a celeb admirer present in the lovely Kasey from girl-group Wonderland, who the guys toured alongside with when supporting Olly Murs earlier in the year.

A nice touch of glamour for a very classy live set!

Standing Where You Left Me is released on the 4th September and can be pre-ordered here.

Kilto Take headline Islington Academy Media Industry Showcase - 27th March

Kilto Take, for me, represent one of the brightest new hopes in rock. Their EP had my enchanted from the first times I heard the likes of the brilliant Retrogress and Ava. With their unique blend of empassioned Muse-like vocals with an energetic backdrop of guitar-work that comes across like a blend of U2 and Editors, they show how great songwriting skill really can elevate you up and beyond the rest of the pack.

Seeing them headline a lengthy media showcase at the Islington Academy, I was struck again by the sheer sense of something distinctly new and exciting happening here – a rock band entering a crowded market that for so long has been lacking in strong, defined melodies. The band blasted through the four tracks from their EP as well as playing two equally impressive new tracks, Inertia and Atonement. With flavours of early New Order thrown into the mix too with their muscular basslines, the band’s set was refined, razor sharp.

Lead singer and guitarist Jon Crosby commands your attention completely and utterly, his guitar playing talent impossible to dismiss. The band conjour up this impenetrable wall of sound, dominating and immensely massive – steely and metallic, it’s a battleship-like wedge of power and energy that sounds absolutely incredible in the small confines of the Islington Academy. The band are made for intimate venues like this, the audience enraptured to the emotion and dynamism of the songs. Here, the band’s superb debut EP comes to life, the story and song-craft of the tracks unfolding like the petals of a flower. And there we have Kilto Take’s beauty; the intricateness of tight, controlled melody juxtaposed with that awe-inspiring scale of their sound.

In terms of the other bands playing on the night, the definite highlight was South London dance outfit STROBE CIRCUS. Blending reggae, dub and drum & bass, they are fronted up by vocalist Rachel Hirons. With her glossy looks and sultry vocals, she could be straight out of a girl-band; but here, she was the definition of fierce, the perfect lead for the band’s intense, atmospheric mix of influences. Hearing dance music done properly live is always impressive, and here the audience were more than up for it. This was music for letting loose, going all out, and truly enjoying yourself.

And as for the best of the rest...

A BLOSSOM FELL, poetically named after the Nat King Cole song, were a quirky, soulful six piece comprised of three guys and three girls. The band were on cheery form, chatting away to the audience and delivering up their Noisettes-esque brand of pretty indie-pop. Their track Margaret Eats A Butterfly in particular is well worth checking out.

UNDERVIEW were also impressive, again, charming the crowd completely. With their laddy humour and rough and ready guitar, they came across like a mix of The Streets and Hard-Fi. Channelling the essence of a punked up The Specials and Madness at moments too, they had the audience eating out of their hand. Check out their track Don’t Know.

THE BREAKDOWN, like Kilto take themselves, were all about strong, powerful guitar – a blend of The Police and The Script at their most angsty, fiery moments. Their EP can be downloaded for free from their website too.