As the opening band on a bill of gloomy indie rock (they are on tour with popular press darlings, White Lies) New York’s Violens (pronounced Vy-Lenz, phonetics fans) offer a slither of light in the haze of this cavernous club. Clad all in white, they deliver a set of melodic and occasionally ambient indie pop. It’s never easy warming a crowd; especially before 20:00 in a central London nightclub, but the early birds are suitably responsive.
It’s a short set of shimmering, 60s pop tinged indie. Think The Shins or The Lilys in places ; it’s just a pity that cavern acoustics muddy the sound, as on record it’s much more crisp and that is occasionally lost here. However, Violens seem to take it all in their bright denim-attired stride. They plug their forthcoming single ‘Violens Trance Like Turn’ which takes a turn for the New Order school of electronic indie and makes for a perfect night club warm up. Expect more outbursts of Violens soon.