Bastille, Koko, London

It’s hard to believe that a band whose debut album proper isn’t due for release until March 2013 have the pulling power to sell out the grand old dame of the capital’s music venues. Arriving on stage with little fanfare, they quickly launch into a frenetic ‘Icarus’ with live-wire frontman Dan Smith bouncing around the stage like a kid overdosing on Haribo. When it comes to crowd interaction the approach is more laid back, reserving this to express their appreciation and a short between song tale of tour induced tonsillitis. Accompanying the band are an all female string quartet whose understated playing lends an epic feel to proceedings.

‘Overjoyed’ sees drum pads bashed rhythmically while the other band members huddle around the same keyboard like geeky Casio enthusiasts. It may not be a new trick but stopping the track midway through before kickstarting it back is a clever move and one that fools most of the capacity audience who were busy delivering applause. For ‘Pompeii’ they bring out their friends To Kill A King who provide the ‘eh oh, eh oh’ backing vocals which are so taken up by the crowd they don’t want to stop even at the song’s conclusion. When it comes to the less familiar tracks ‘These Streets’ is the most striking, representing the biggest departure from their signature sound it muscles in on the danceable tropical pop territory of Friendly Fires as the gathered shift from eye shuffling to feet shuffling.

In what initially appears to be reverse logic Smith decides to put on a grey hood at the start of set closer ‘Flaws’ although his reasoning soon becomes apparent, climbing speaker stacks on both sides of the stage before venturing fully into the audience. It’s a real skill to avoid beer getting thrown at you from all angles whilst having your clothes pulled at but he somehow manages to achieve this and still maintain those pitch perfect vocals. After an eventful climax to their main set proper the band walk back on barely a minute later to considerable applause. Taking the tempo down into almost ballad-like territory they deliver the gorgeous ‘Get Home’, strings and gentle piano taking centre stage with a smattering of gentle guitar and drums for good measure. The biggest reaction of the evening however is saved for their unique take on Nineties dance anthem ‘Rhythm Of The Night’ complete with intra-band drum off. It’s a moment impossible not to savour and one that sparks a mass of flailing limbs and hands moving skyward.

On a rain-sodden winter night the South London quartet adeptly prove that you don’t need elaborate stage props, fancy lighting or an extensive back catalogue to impress. Pulling off a set that mixes album tracks, B-sides and cover versions with barely a foot wrong is a sure sign Bastille are destined for yet bigger things.