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There was one particular moment at October Drift’s gig on Thursday night (April 8) when the tangible release of an almost two-year hiatus from rock shows broke through.
Upstairs in the dark room of Oslo in Hackney, a large man rocking a greying mullet and sporting a bright white October Drift tee lurched to the front of the stage, and lifted a monitor high in the air to rapturous cheers.
Admonishment, of course, soon came from a security guard, but not before the crowd had been able to bask in that second where rock had returned.
It was a performance where the boundaries between band and crowd felt constantly blurred. Arriving on stage accompanied by the heady thumps of Underworld’s Born Slippy, lead singer Kiran Roy clambered above the drum kit before launching himself into the crowd, only moments after album opener Losing My Touch had begun.
Meanwhile, Brian May-lookalike guitarist Daniel Young soaked up the attention of the mob, his rock-star pout offering a glimpse into just how much fun it must be to dictate the rhythm of a baying crowd – particularly when you can see the whites of their eyes.
The four-piece had shared their debut album Forever Whatever with the world in January 2020, shortly before the end of days, and the night Hackney marked the final leg of the band’s nationwide tour.
Fittingly, the group played with a ferocity that bestowed the occasion. Classics like Cherry Red were soaked up by a noisy and diverse audience, while newer singles including Airborne Panic Attack cemented their place among future set lists.
And, another pied-piper moment arrived when, halfway through the set – and possibly thirsty from his exertions – Kiran made his way to the bar.
But, rather than coughing up £5 for a can of Superbock like the rest of us, the singer clambered among the taps, and proceeded to play a full song while crouched awkwardly under the venue’s low ceiling.
Smaller venues have been some of the country’s cultural institutions hit hardest by on-and-off closures and the band’s performance offered a timely reminder of what we would miss should they disappear for good.
October Drift deal in the grungy, Nirvana-reminiscent anthems tailor-made for such spaces. Deep vocals and booming guitars coalesce, charging up before launching into surprisingly catchy pop-edged choruses.
There wasn’t a second to spare for silence until the encore arrived. Dispensing with the awkward traditional exit and reappearance, Kiran and drummer Chris Holmes remained on stage, before taking a bow and sliding into the audience.
A hushed campfire circle soon formed around the pair, who led the crowd in a gentle rendition of September-released single Like the Snow We Fall.
The moment marked a sharp contrast from the previous 50 minutes of rampant noise, and, almost awkward in the quiet spotlight, Chris rattled his tambourine and encouraged the audience to play their part.
He was duly met with a booze-influenced rendition of the track’s refrain, and, as crowd and band became one, it felt like live music had never been away.
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