Music

Reviewed: Circa Waves @ The Lexington, London

On Wednesday night Liverpool quartet Circa Waves took to the tiny stage at London’s The Lexington. Easily filling the room, the band played an effortless set, leading the less informed to think that these guys have been playing for years, but at only 26 years old, lead singer Kieran Shuddall is still far too fresh faced for that. With a limited number of tracks to choose from (the boys are yet to release an album) the set was short, sweet, but perfectly orchestrated. It makes it easier to pick the songs to please your crowd with fewer options, but when they are all decent tracks, it’s even easier.

Their single, Stuck In My Teeth, was named as Zane Lowe’s Hottest Record in the World back in February, when the band was still only making ripples. Since then Circa Waves have performed live in session for Huw Stevens, played across the country and been named as the Band of the Day at this year’s The Great Escape Festival. Likened to Vampire Weekend and The Strokes, (ok, who hasn’t been), the boys genuinely have something, with a great upbeat indie sound and enough stage presence to make it a decent show to watch. Having been signed by Virgin/EMI, I’m obviously not the only one who thinks so.

While they might not be lyrical masters, their songs are shrewd and resonate with the frustrations they’ve experienced breaking onto the scene over the years. We guarantee that “I’m a little too young with not enough time” will be floating across festivals throughout the summer, and the boys are already confirmed at to be playing Reading & Leeds, Latitude and more, so you might want to make sure they’re noted on your lanyard!