Jakil at Sebright Arms

East London seems to be a breeding ground for up-and-coming, slightly alternative/hipster acts in recent times; some real gems can be discovered nestled among a sea of seemingly dreary scenery. Tonight we headed down to a proper east end boozer in Bethnal Green to put the latest indie act Jakil under the microscope and see if they have enough talent and personality to propel them above the rest of the underground bands.

Rory Butler has the task of supporting the Scottish boys tonight and he does an impressive job with his melancholic acoustic set, however there is little need for a warmed-up crowd as the packed-out underground room is stuffier than a Christmas jumper from your nan. As the boys finally step out onstage the most instantly ear-catching feature is frontman Kieran O’Brien’s wonderfully harmonic vocal range: it has consistency that almost makes it seem auto-tuned and is in the same bracket as singers like Sam Smith. The supporting four-piece band combines seamlessly with the vocal performance to create a smooth summery jingle that is just as good live as it is on record.

The payoff moment of the Jakil live experience mainly revolves around the more intense choruses of songs like Look Like Gold and Istanbul as O’Brien can belt out his beautifully soulful vocals while bouncing off the steady tempo of the groovier than Austin Powers guitar parts. A mini brass section is even rolled out mid-set to accompany the already stellar live sound and give it an even richer and more grandiose feel. The oxygen may have been completely sucked out of the ferociously hot room but this didn’t stop the crowd bopping and dancing to every tune, under a trance of indie dance.

If exciting future British talent is looking for a nurturing home to spread its wings then East London can definitely stake its claim. Jakil showed that they have more than enough talent to attack and conquer larger venues in their quest to earn an indie crown, with their vibrant soulful live show. London take note.

Keir Smith
Photo: RobertGershinson2014

For further information about Jakil and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Look Like Gold here: