Lukestar & Airborne Toxic Event at Dublin Castle

According to the God-sent font of wisdom that is Wikipedia, there are some 44,000 Americans resident in London. A quick headcount reveals that all but three of them are here tonight, packed to the gunwales inside the inexplicably prestigious Dublin Castle to witness the heroically chiselled angsty-ness of California’s The Airborne Toxic Event and Norway’s Lukestar.

I am stood next to a six-foot-five drunk cowboy called Dan (I did not dare ask if he was, at all, ‘Desperate’) who professes to ‘really dig these guys’. The band start up. The girls scream. Dan goes crazy.

I have never claimed to understand a great deal about this brand of Indie Rock, nor for that matter Americans. However, the recipe seems to be rather simple (for indie rock at least). Mix four part handsome guys with one part girl in floral dress, add one violin and a very liberal dash of super-sincerity. Bake in the oven for around 35 pouts and then serve with good dollop of catalogue poses. Et voila! You’ve got yourself a slot on the Carson Daly Show.

I’m trying my best to get some good photos, but it’s hard when you’re stood behind Dan the Cowboy. I finally manoeuvre myself out of his formidable shadow and take a position from which I can get a really good look at the singer’s cheekbones. My God, they’re high. However, that’s the last I see of Dan (I hear it’s cattle-driving season, so he’s probably needed back at the ranch).

Meanwhile, lead singer Mikel Jollet leads the crowd into popular single Sometime Around Midnight. It’s an epically anthemic song in the Snow Patrol/U2 vein that really, really reminds me of Snow Patrol and U2. It is definitely the highlight of the set and allows the whole band to look really, really good. Their sound has been described as ‘poetry you can dance to’. Well, there are people dancing, so I guess it must be true. I bet Philip Larkin never got a roomful of girls bopping to the beat of a pounding bassline, no sireee. Plus, Dan the Cowboy really digs them.

The night ends with the sonic assault that is Norwegian headliners Lukestar. They’re loud, very loud- had they turned their amps down a decibel or fifty the unexpected falsetto of singer Truls Heggero would have impressed even more, as might have the lyrics and melody he was singing.

They have a tank-topped, high school drop-out approach to emo-punkpop that is refreshing and despite some exquisitely fashioned haircuts, have an odd ’90s, dork-pop feel. New single White Shade has elements of early Foo Fighters grunge and succeeds in pricking, I notice, even the barman’s ear. Their stagecraft is typically Scandanavian- unassuming, distant- but the gleeful buoyancy with which they speed through latest album Toba Lake is sufficient to carry the audience of bewildered Americans. I wonder what Dan the Cowboy would think.

Dublin Castle
94 Parkway
Camden
NW1 7AN

New Lukestar single White Shade is out now
European tour continues tonight in Copenhagen
www.myspace.com/lukestar
www.lukestar.com