Since the release of their debut album ‘Youth Is Only Fun In Retrospect’ last month, Sundara Karma have been busy touring with fellow indie rockers Two Door Cinema Club and have recently embarked on their own sold out UK tour. On Thursday night the Buckinghamshire four piece played at the hauntingly beautiful Albert Hall in the heart of Manchester City Centre. Walking on stage to Gwen Stefani’s ‘Hollaback Girl’ before kicking off proceedings with album opener ‘A Young Understanding’, it was instantly clear to see the undeniable stage presence that the band possess.
The crowd went wild, clinging on to every lyric that came out of lead singer Oscar LuLu’s mouth and I knew that their enthusiasm and general rowdiness wasn’t something that was going to change throughout the duration of the gig – hitting the giant balloons thrown into the crowd and sitting on each other’s shoulders, it wasn’t long before Oscar had to intervene and throw a fans shoe back to them.
From pre-album tracks ‘Hustle’, ‘Indigo Puff’ and ‘Freshbloom’ to anthemic album tracks such as ‘Flame’ and the instantly recognisable ‘She Said’, Oscar’s broad and distinctive vocals sailed through each track on the bands set list, including their funky cover of ‘Never Too Much’ by Luther Vandross.
A particular highlight and moment of pure euphoria was when the band played their latest single ‘Happy Family’; a slow starter that’s prominently guitar based until the rest of the band come crashing in and trigger the tracks increase in tempo.
With their fresh sounds and energised live performances that are peppered with quirkiness, Summer 2017 is bound to belong to Sundara Karma. The band have already announced a tonne of festival appearances, including a headline slot at Dot To Dot Festival. Don’t miss them!