IN PHOTOS: iTunes Festival 2013 (Week 3)
Performance highlights
September 15
Singer Ezra Koenig and band focused their set with tracks off their new Album, Modern Vampires of the City, playing "Diane Young" the catchy single as the opening track. They didnt disappoint their loyal fans who sang along to every word on songs like "A-Punk", "Oxford Comma", "Cousins" and the big hit "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa". Crowd-pleasing singles with global musical influences made for a vibrant, musically-rich affair from this collective of ex whip-smart Columbia University students.
The Olms, a collaboration of Los Angeles-based songwriters Pete Yorn and J.D. King, performed their well crafted pop tunes with a nod to the early days of California songwriters. Stand out tracks were "One the Line" and "Wanna Feel it".
September 17
Eyes closed and immersed in the music, Ludovico Einaudi brought intense emotion to a already powerful show specially composed for the iTunes Festival. His stunning reimagined arrangements of tracks from his new album "In A Time Lapse" and selected fan favourites from his previous albums including"Eros", "Nightbook" and "Eden Roc" enthralled attendees who were so attentive you could hear a pin drop. The accompanying musicians played expertly, the perfect addition to help bring the songs to their full vibrant magnitude against a backdrop of images created by well known Italian visual artist Claudio Sinatti. The contemplative and captivating Agnes Obel warmed the crowd with a combination of tracks from her debut and forthcoming album. Agnes was joined onstage by two string players, blending perfectly with her skilled piano and vocal stylings. Shadows and lights played off the drama and depth of her music, creating a haunting and inspired environment. New tracks like "The Curse" and "Words Are Dead" sailed through the venue and brought the audience to attention for this exciting and talented artist.
September 18
Making their iTunes Festival debut, the band burst onto the stage & kicked off the show with "Birth", from their newest album Love Lust Faith & Dreams. Jared Leto & band ripped through hit after hit, including "Search & Destroy", "End Of Days", & newest single "City Of Angels". Rousing performances of classic hits "This Is War & Closer To The Edge" brought out the bands theatrical side, with brightly coloured giant balloons being thrown to the delighted crowd, and a live acrobatic performance during Depuis Le Debut. Encore track "Up In the Air" raised the roof in the Roundhouse as excited fans invaded the stage - a fitting end to a joyous night.
Blues rock band The Family Rain opened Day 18 at the iTunes Festival with a storming performance. Hailing from Bath in the UK, brothers William, Ollie & Timothy Walter performed tracks from their EPs Pushing It, Carnival, and Trust Me, I'm A Genius.
September 19
Showcasing tracks from his phenomenally successful album “Good Kid, M.A.A.D. Cityâ€, Kendrick Lamar expertly mixed the tropes of a hip-hop show (call-and-response, acapella sections and colourful language) with his introspective, thoughtful take on the genre. This was a show that rocked hard yet had real depth. The thumping G-funk of “Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe†was a particular highlight, certainly not a club tune, yet greeted ecstatically by the audience, who joined in with every word. Cracking a grin, praising his fans and offering to take them all back to Compton, Kendrik was evidently having a great time, and when he dropped “M.A.A.D. City†the intensity reached a new peak. The anthem “Swimming Pools (Drank)" closed the show, leaving the Roundhouse crowd well and truly rinsed out.
Kicking off the night, Kendrick Lamar's Black Hippy groupmate Schoolboy Q hit the stage with a powerful set that quickly set heads nodding. Featuring songs from his forthcoming album Oxymoron, Schoolboy's modern take on the sound of L.A. hip-hop was propelled by provocative lyricism and electronic, moody atmospherics.
September 20
Bobby Gillespie, dressed in an unforgettable pink suit, sang and danced his way through tracks from their illustrious set of albums including massive hits "Country Girl", the unforgettable "Rocks" and new fan favourites "It's Alright, It's OK" and "Walking with the Beast". Pulling from garage rock, dance and psych Primal Scream know how to turn it out in true style, building and layering driving guitars, blasting horns, hard-hitting drums and Bobby's signature vocals into a tightly orchestrated wall of sound. Rousing versions of "Loaded" and "Movin On Up" closed the night in classic form with fans singing and dancing with that Primal Scream party spirit.
All-female trio punk band Skinny Girl Diet were handpicked by Bobby Gillespie to open and they ignited the stage with their distorted guitar sounds, slamming drums and searing vocals. They started their set with the riotous track "Comedown" and ripped through seething versions of "Homesick" and "Wasted Smile". This London based band is certainly one to watch.
September 21
With dazzling, infectious melodies, intricate three-part harmonies, endless enthusiasm, bottomless energy and passion in abundance, HAIM demonstrated exactly why they are one of the most exciting new rock bands around right now. Current single “The Wire†got proceedings off to a fine start, with crowd favourite set-closers “Don't Save Me†and “Forever†leaving the Roundhouse demanding more. Following the final encore song, “Let Me Goâ€, bassist Este stunned the crowd with a jaw-dropping stage dive into the crowd. Chaotic, hilarious and brilliant, perhaps HAIM will return next year as bonafide superstars.
Stepping up from her billing at last year's festival as support for Emeli Sandé and Bastille, Gabrielle Aplin breezed onto the stage to warm hearts with her unaffected, engaging melodies. Now with a UK Top 3 album English Rain under her belt, this was an accomplished, confident performance. Her short-but-sweet set featured the UK No.1 single “The Power of Loveâ€, a spirited cover of the Fleetwood Mac classic “Go Your Own Wayâ€, as well as her self-penned hits “Please Don't Say You Love Me†and “Panic Cordâ€. Closing with the sublime “Homeâ€, Gabrielle left the stage to a generous, prolonged ovation.
Second on the bill, Manchester's Bilpolar Sunshine treated the audience to a selection of their funk-tinged, soulful tunes including the brand new single “Love More Worry Less†as well as former iTunes UK Single of the Week pick “Riversâ€. Band leader Adio Marchant's reflective and emotionally charged lyrics nicely mirrored the band's sensitive, carefully crafted songs.
Opening the show, rising star Dan Croll warmed up the Roundhouse with a set of adventurous, quirky pop, featuring his excellent recent single “In/Outâ€. With his somewhat geeky look evidently having considerable appeal, Dan's engaging manner drew a very good crowd, even eliciting a proposal of marriage from one particularly enamoured fan!
Visit http://www.philstar.com/music/itunesfestival daily and find out who else will rock the Roundhouse in London this whole month of September!
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