Craig spent Monday night being the official gig photographer for Birds of Tokyo at Camden’s Barfly and this is his account of the evening.
To be honest I was only recently introduced to their music via Australian sensation Karnivool whom Ian Kenny also fronts. He clearly is a talented individual keeping himself busy by making huge inroads in the progressive rock genre. The sold out show clearly demonstrated the following the band have amongst the Australian well informed. The reason for their popularity soon becomes apparent as they take to the stage to rapturous applause and fill the room with their captivating brand of prog-rock.
Having only heard a couple songs online I was not sure what to expect from their live act, but was soon initiated into their rock following. Every song was instant entertainment for the masses, demonstrated by the lyrics being mouthed by the ardent fans in the crowd and their subsequent participation to the show. What bands like Birds of Tokyo demonstrate is the tragedy of limited exposure. While we are being inundated with transparent pop acts vying for top spot thanks to overly broadcast talent shows, hard working talented acts are not getting the global exposure they deserve. It must be said though that there are bands out there worthy of our attention, and it’s up to us to do the research and spread the word.