NME Radar Tour 2009 -
After the huge success of the first NME Radar tour of 2009, which saw acts such as La Roux, White Lies, and Friendly Fires take to the stage and find sudden fame, the music world was waiting with baited breath to see who would be on the line-up for the second NME Radar tour of 2009. So fast-forward seven months, October 13th, at London’s Koko. It’s time for Golden Silvers, Marina and the Diamonds, Local Natives, and Yes Giantess to show us what they’re made of. Musically speaking, that is. Yes Giantess are first to perform. Their seven-song set, is filled up with up-beat fast electro songs, with a sound that is almost comparable to the type of music you’d expect to hear backing a 90’s ‘Sonic the hedgehog’ game. If you’re a fan of MGMT, then you’re almost certain to like the electro sound of Yes Giantess. Local Natives are next. They have already gained quite a following, after performing at SXSW, and supporting on the Editors tour. Before they come on stage, the crowd starts to get slightly more lively in anticipation of their set; it seems that the Natives have bought their own crowd of fans with them. Their sound has been compared to the likes of Vampire Weekend, Fleet Foxes, and Arcade Fire, and it’s not hard to see why! Their American – indie type songs are nothing new in the world of music, but there’s nothing not to like about them! The lead singer of Local Natives is not exactly what you’d expect from a typical indie boy-band, and perhaps this is what makes them so individual. ‘Airplanes’ is the most memorable song of their half-hour set, the beat is annoyingly catchy, so much so that even those who have never heard of Local Natives before cannot help but dance along.
It was now time of newly tipped popstress Marina and the Diamonds to take to the stage. Having missed several of the other Radar Tour dates due to having the flu, it was debatable whether or not Marina would be up to performing, and whether or not she’d be in tip top singing condition. Bursting onto stage wearing a fleece/coat/hoody type garment, which was decorated to look like a sheep, she opened with ‘Girls’. Immediately it was obvious that Marina was in top form, even though she later tweeted to her ‘Diamonds’ apologising “sorry i was a little shaky tonight, London”. She certainly did not seem shaky! Marina twirled around the stage belting out her catchy pop numbers. In between songs, she thanked NME for giving her the opportunity of performing on the NME Radar Tour. However, I feel that NME will be thanking her, as she was certainly the most popular act of the night! Her pop-infused set consisted of; Girls, Seventeen, I Am Not A Robot, Obsession, a cover of ‘Late Of The Pier’ Space And Woods, Shampain Sleeper, ending with her next single Mowgli’s Road.
Headliners Golden Silvers finally took to the stage, performing there well known songs ‘True Romance’ and ‘Arrow of Eros’. However, there performance was seemed slightly downbeat in comparison to Marina and the Diamonds. Perhaps, although Golden Silvers are more well known, it would have been wise to switch around the position of their sets, and have Marina as the headliner? The main question lying on everyone’s lips now, is who will be the success of the tour? February’s tour led to major success for La Roux, whose album went straight to number two. In my opinion Marina was the star of the show, and it seems almost certain that she will go on to bigger and better things.
