The band plays an EP launch show in London.

Taking to Dalston’s Shacklewell Arms this Friday night are Palm Honey, due to play the release gig for their most recent offering Tucked Into The Electronic Wave.

Starting out safe with single You Stole My Blackout, Palm Honey know how to smoothen the crowd in the mood. With bouncing riffs and psychedelic twists, combined with a strong bass-line, the track is a good opener to kick up the audience a bit.

Following up with single Bones, before finally taking on their recent EP tracks. Going Normal’s Tame Impala-esque opening with soaring synth and firm beat does not quite reach its full potential, and though the groundwork seems to be set for greatness the tune does not, neither live nor recorded.

Finally coming around to address the existence of their crowd, Palm Honey have nothing to say. “We’re Palm Honey. Thank you for coming,” says frontman, Joseph Mumford. Though the band are musically great, their introvert act and non-inclusive live performance has the attention of the crowd easily slipping, and it’s not a good sign when snappchatting the rest of the crowd is more interesting than the band on-stage.

Next up is another EP track, Palace. The pop structure of the tune makes it danceable, and the crowd is more than willing. Though there seems to be a disconnect between what’s going on at stage, and the crowd’s action, everyone seems to be having fun in their own way. Palace sounds considerably different live, however the stripped back version gives an edge to the track.

Palm Honey are definitely one of the more interesting bands to pay attention to, and hopefully they’ll gain the live confidence to make their shows worthwhile soon. Stick The Knife In‘s long instrumental parts give both a variation to the musical terrain, and another chance to moshpit. And the crowd, determined to have a good time do so, to the extent that Mumford must ask to “watch the monitors cause they’re expensive.”

Rounding off the gig is I Can Try. Sparkled with funky guitar-work and gangly rhythms soon escalate into one final crescendo and everyone seems pleased enough with that. It’s been a good gig from a band that with a little work and variation can reach even further.

Photos: Aurora Henni Krogh