Tom Vek

Tom Vek's debut album was an underground phenomenon. As the noughties beckoned a golden age of post-punk dance music, 'We Have Sound' was a magnificent response to the raw and abrasive jams produced across the atlantic by LCD Soundsystem, The Rapture, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and co. Vek's enslaving basslines and caustic drum beats expedited his climb up the indie disco hierarchy, and with his characteristic London accent and introspective lyricism (check out 'Cover' as a great example), 'We Have Sound' was a record destined to stand the test of time.
Ironically, the success of the album instigated a six year (six year!) hiatus from music. Imagine, then, the pandemonium that ensued when Vek finally returned to the stage in 2011. Pretty much everyone I know was at Brighton's Concorde 2 for the comeback tour - a gig more than half a decade in the making. The crowd went nuts as the famous 'Nothing But Green Lights' bassline reverberated around the tiny venue. Screaming words to every song that I'd danced to pretty much every weekend through university, it was one of those shows that flashed past in moments. Vek was as energetic as ever, and revelled being back in the driving seat.
Two albums later, Tom Vek is still well on top of his game. But if someone could explain what 'Sherman (Animals In The Jungle)' is all about, that would be cool.

It's not often I watch a band where the big question is "hey, where did you buy those shoes". But Tom is as cool and dapper as his music. However, this is not the cool aloofness of a brain ferry, this is a man at one with his music, his style and his sense of enjoyment. His wry smile was not about attitude but is probably fixed to his face when he rehearses alone. The music hooks and lifts you, with James Brown beats and the contemporary swirl of guitars and electronics - calming and lifting as the musical mood switches. Pitching songs from all three of his albums this was over 90 minutes of pure joy and even the security were forced to tap their feet. Closing out with Sherman (Animals in the jungle) was a great climatic ending. As ever you left answering the questions why isn't Tom Vek a massive hitster and where did he buy those shoes?