Moon Gangs and Cheatahs at The Lexington

The Lexington has quickly become a staple on the London music scene, showcasing bands just as they’re taking off, alongside those with well-established cult followings.

Moon Gangs opened the night with a distinct but appropriate deep space electro DJ set. Sudden changes in tempo and tone had the ability to control the room and guide the audience – a duty he took seriously and performed well. Tracks flowed easily into one another in a well thought out set that demonstrated a small sample of the complex potential of this young composer’s musical vision. This built up the energy levels for the rest of the evening, and provided a very different but complementary sound to that of headliners, Cheatahs.

It takes a solid team for no one to shine in particular; Cheatahs all shine equally, holding their own and commanding attention both as individuals and as a cohesive unit. All the members of the four-piece are completely engrossed in their own instruments yet work so instinctively with one another that each contribution is equally important to the overall sound. 

The show was akin to being allowed to sit in on a jam session in their garage; it was the debut of songs never recorded or performed live before, like Sunne and Mercian Sun. At times bassist Dean Reid and drummer Marc Raue would vibe off one another as though sharing a private moment, or guitarists Nathan Hewitt and James Wignall would create vibrant, unexpected sounds – it is through this experimentation that this work is in eternal progress, always developing and improving.

The audience favourite seemed to be The Swan, which has an instantly recognisable opening riff that set them abuzz. It was the penultimate song, and while it was a strong way to close the evening, that enthusiasm injection might have been better used earlier in the show.

Cheatahs have taken the sound of 90s shoegazing grunge – a genre that moulded the introspective, angst-ridden teenage years and musical tastes of many – and created something that sounds current and exciting. This is no easy feat, but they’re doing a great job at turning that heavy load into something surprisingly appealing.

Yassine Senghor

For further information about Cheatahs and future events visit here.

Watch the video for Get Tight here: