It’s well-known that London's KOKO has become a standout venue for touring artists, and given its lavish decor and impressive surroundings, it's easy to see why. However, tonight’s performance by Manchester’s Antony Szmierek offers a different experience compared to the usual grandeur many guests admire as they ascend the venue's numerous staircases. Known for blending various musical styles—merging his accessible poetry and spoken word with catchy beats and uplifting rhythms, all while balancing between indie and rap—this marks his biggest headline show in the capital yet, and he has an innovative approach tonight. Rather than the standard artist-audience dynamic typical of such events, he invites several attendees to join him on stage, fitting into a narrow space with his bandmates, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a Boiler Room session rather than a conventional night at this North London venue.
With the audience warmed up by the fantastic Getdown Services, whose lively and satirical performances are utterly engaging, an otherworldly vibe fills the room as Antony and his group take the stage to the opening notes of the lead track from his debut album, ‘Service Station at the End of the Universe’. The subsequent songs, ‘The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Fallacy’ and ‘The Great Pyramid of Stockport’, evoke a beautiful sense of euphoria, while the lively track ‘Working Classic’ from ‘Poems To Dance To’ reaches for the venue’s upper levels with its relatable verses and shimmering beats.
As always, Antony remains the heart of the performance; despite a 360° audience, he maintains a deep connection on an intimate level, even while performing in front of the largest crowd he has faced. Predictably, the setlist features a heavy emphasis on tracks from his new album, and when the catchy hook of ‘Yoga Teacher’ or the pulsating electronic introduction of ‘Rafters’ plays, it’s pure bliss. His cover of Robbie Williams’ ‘Feel’ is a flawless choice, tapping into both the emotional depth of the song and a strong wave of nostalgia, before the introspective themes of ‘Crashing Up’ and the encore piece ‘Restless Leg Syndrome’ deliver a significant yet moving impact near the end of the show.
Even at one of the most significant performances of his career, he focuses less on himself and his band and more on the audience, encouraging everyone to join in a faux New Year’s countdown before his final song. “We’ve had our time. This is for you now,” he states as the fake bells chime in preparation for his breakout hit ‘The Words to Auld Lang Syne’, bringing a beautiful ending to an exceptionally unique evening.
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His performance this evening features a variety of guests being invited up onto the stage for a truly one-of-a-kind night.