Friday nights are always certain for success down at The Shacklewell Arms in Dalston, even on the nights when the miserable-as-hell rain lashes you in the face. Palm Honey were chalked in for tonight’s proceedings for no more than zero pounds, a band on the brink of a very (very) successful 2017, the group were here to launch their debut EP, Tucked Into the Electronic Wave. If you’ve not listened to it yet, get out from under your rock, it’s nothing short of four tracks of bliss.

Supporting Palm Honey was Dorking’s Vinyl Staircase. The four-piece recently attracted the attention of NME’s Rhian Daly for their exquisite track ‘German Wings’ – a number that was set to get an airing tonight along with their second release from their current incarnation, ‘Slumber No.1’. Breezes of psychedelia wash through their sound touching cornerstones of Foxygen, The Stone Roses and The Brian Jonestown Massacre in their sound. Lucid guitar riffs soar above interestingly phrased vocals, not quite a whisper but more a cautious summon into the world of Vinyl Staircase – and what a bloody lovely world it is. What was equally as outstanding tonight was the size of the crowd they are already attracting, small mosh-pits opened up around the cramped venue but each dance move was deserved for the band – they were one of the finest support acts – if not the finest support act I have seen in a long time.

After a short break, tonight’s headliner, Palm Honey were ready to launch their EP and launch is exactly what they did. Unapologetic in how they erupted into their set, pints were quickly hurled forward by the crowd who held the restless enthusiasm of a hamster on a wheel. It was clear from the off that the crowd were equally ready to give the set their all just as much as the band were. As the four-piece hit into ‘Going Normal’ frontman Joseph Mumford had to politely ask the crowd to watch out for the monitors – not that they particularly listened.

The set was varied taking into account the different sounds that the Reading-based group draw on, even inviting a friend to take to the stage to play saxophone for a couple of numbers. Glimmers of 80s synth-pop shine through, along with woozy takes on keys and festival-sized choruses. The dreamy psych-pop grows in size on their EP and this is something that is easily mirrored in their live show. The jarring ‘I Can Try’ works on a neck-breaking up stroke, something that crosses the sound between Ty Segall and The Coral. The tracks aired tonight show deservedly why Palm Honey have been attracting all the plaudits in recent times. The EP is a wistful gem of indie-pop crafted in the mould of contemporary psychedelia – ‘Stick The Knife In’ is the standout of the set though with its krautrock hypnotic intro, the head-bobber of the set.

By the close of the set, it is clear that both bands here tonight are onto something very, very good. Palm Honey’s EP stands as one of the better things to have happened in 2017, a nice contrast to the world of misery that has erupted at the start of this week. Bodies begin to drip out of the main room at The Shacklewell into the Arctic conditions of the smoking area; alcohol, youth and a fitting end – or start for some – to Friday night.
Tom Churchill

Website: palmhoney.co.uk
Facebook: facebook.com/palmhoneyband
Twitter: twitter.com/palmhoneyband