Woodkid @ the Roundhouse, 14 May

Amongst a sea of hipsters, we listened to some cool down and up tempo beats and an amazing voice. 

Woodkid (aka Yoann Lemoine) - a French music video director and graphic designer turned singer-songwriter recently released his first album 'The Golden Age' and is currently touring the world. One stop was the Roundhouse in London's Camden.

The gig started to amazing fan fare with heavy resonating drum beats that got the crowd excited. With an orchestra, numerous varying drum guys and a brass quartet you knew you were going to be in for quite a show.

Woodkid played the whole album (with a few extras at the end) which was a great introduction to a complete newb like me who had only really ever heard 'Run Boy Run'.

Drum beats were amazing, the orchestra beautiful and the brass section impressive. It made being in band at high school cool again. Woodkid's voice, deep and soothing was impressively constant and strong.

Woodkid's previous occupations is evident in how the overall show is put together. From amazing graphics and videos projected behind the band to the stunning lighting, this was the whole shebang and overall a good experience. 

The set started slow and down tempo focusing mainly on the man with the voice. It continued on for quite a few songs and unfortunately started to become same-same-but-slightly-different. Midway through, like the flip of a switch it was suddenly fast and up tempo finally getting the crowd going. Fists were pumped like they didn't care, toes were tapped and bodies were jumping. 

Personally, I would like to have been given more notice. (you don't write, you don't call...) A steady interspersion of the more energetic tracks through the slower ones would have prepared the mind better for what was coming. Instead, we were lulled into a false sense of comfort then thrown into an ice cold lake in the peak of winter. There wasn't enough time to react before it was all over and we were exiting the venue once again.

Would I see him again? I'm not so sure... it was a good gig but not enough to warrant another viewing in the same year.


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Woodkid returns to London on 13 November 2013 playing at the o2 Brixton Academy.

Get your tickets here to see for yourself.