Spring King, Scala, London review • DIY Magazine

Spring King couldn’t be more in their element; the last show of their current tour to the biggest headline crowd they’ve played to date, this is Spring King’s night and they know it.

The Magic Gang on the other hand, are the picture of a band on the up, though equally at home and giddy at where they find themselves. Grinning from ear to ear as they riffle unfalteringly through the smattering of material they’ve unleashed on the world so far, delivering on all perceived promises in new, fuller-sounding material, the Brighton newcomers clearly showcase why their own headline show within these very walls in September is less ambitious than it may at first appear. Clearly besides themselves over the growing crowd of exuberantly singing fans, The Magic Gang are in that sweet spot where everything they do is new and exciting, and it shows. Catchy choruses and joyful riffs are delivered perfectly, the spotlight flitting between lead vocalist Jack Kaye and the rest of the (magic) gang, this a band so involved across their entire line-up that it’s a joy to watch.

Spring King are equally multi-faceted. Whaling on their instruments like there’s no tomorrow and making frequent trips into the adoring crowd, there’s nothing but energy on stage tonight, and it’s contagious. That being said, it’s when drumming frontman Tarek Musa finds time to leave his station and roam around with cheeky faux-menace for ‘They’re Coming After You’ that they’re are at their most captivating. Swathed in smoke and trembling reverb, this and the few rare other moments when Tarek is untethered are a sight to behold.

For a relatively young band, the set list is littered with hits. From the heavily-embellished war cry of ‘Who Are You’ to new single and self-proclaimed “start of the summer”, the aptly named; ‘The Summer’, Spring King’s music is simple enough to feel instantly familiar but complex enough to keep things interesting. Though standout tracks like closer ‘City’ and the no nonsense encore of ‘V-V-V-Vampire’ that follows without pause for breath whip the crowd into particularly intense frenzy, there are very few moments where Spring King aren’t functioning at 100%.