Django Django Prove Third Time's The Charm
Published
Art School grads Django Django defy the heavens in Manchester Cathedral, to deliver a bombastic “Born Under Saturn” tour to the Northern crowd. Say what you like about gigs, but each one is different. Crowd, set-list and most importantly the venue changes the atmosphere of each tour date drastically, so ending a tour in a historic Cathedral dating back to the Saxons isn’t a bad way to cement a heavily successful tour and second album.
Before the four-piece are even close to the erected stage centred in the main hall, the last of the light trickles through beautiful stained glass windows. Eerie and delicate in equal measures, it’s with bated breath that a projection of the Sluggard statue (Djangos album cover/current mascot) is seen spinning onto the blank backdrop. It’s a nod to Djangos recent album, taking planets, mythology and art and projecting it to space-age synth drenched pop.
The band happily slide straight into appropriately named instrumental “Intro” from their self-titled debut, as they stand stoic in vaguely matching striped shirts. The set remains debut heavy, sticking to their solid electronic stomp, as “Hail Bop” marches in with military precision.
It’s only after wearing away some of the stonework with the stamping crowd does singer Vincent Neff acknowledge the venue as “f***king great” before playing the first “Born Under Saturn” track. “Shake and Tremble” swaggers in, purring bassline that transforms the Sluggard statue into its neon counterpart. It’s the first of a string of new tracks, with the factory sealed beats of “First light” following. “Beginning to fade” is far more raw, with rich harmonies; a change of pace acoustic guitar and spaghetti western bass solo making it a bluesy highlight. The new tracks cause “Firewater” to seem very fragile in such a venue, as “Reflections’” saxophone rich cacophony bounces off the pillars.
As the set reached an ambitious peak an ill omen is cast. The sound cuts during the first few lines of “Waveforms” though bravely carried on by the crowd, this doesn’t hinder the quartet. “Second time we play Manchester and have managed to break the sound system”. It appears not to be a good time to get into heaven, as the lights die a second time, forcing a retreat for the Djangos.
It’s a confusing time, as 15 minutes passes, with not a breath of whether the gig will even proceed. Some fans leave, some laugh, but thankfully the majority stay. “Third times a charm” Neff shouts to roaring applaud as they finally begin to recapture the atmosphere that the heavens had taken. It’s lucky therefore that they saved the best of their debut till last. “Skies Over Cairo’s” drums sound like an army about to assault the venue, bouncing off the ancient stonework, recapturing the lost momentum. The Egyptian-themed track seems oddly fitting in the Christian place of worship, but Django Django revel conjunctions.
No time for a true encore the band try to end with “WOR”. It’s a fitting end, sounding like a showdown with sirens and trigger pulling bass, the Djangos slay the crowd. Thankfully the end was premature as they hear they have time for one last track. Bubble-pop “Silver Rays” with it’s hypnotic synths seems a more positive ending.
The band turned an omen into a feat of strength. Despite technical issues they bounded off each other, bouncing smiles throughout. No amateur dramatic egos, the Djangos just wanted to do what they love - share their music. An inspiration for any tech-savvy musicians with a group of mates.
To find out more about Django Django,click here. To visit the band's Facebook page,
click here. Words by Jack Wood
