Zico Chain - O2 Islington Academy 2, London [Live]

  

January 27th 2010

As I find out getting to Islington to see Zico Chain, the gig is going to take place in the small O2 Academy 2. The auditorium is not very big, the stage most definitely tiny, the photo pit non existent. It’s hard to imagine an explosion of power and energy like the one I’m soon to experience in such a small place.

I make my way to the front praying for my Nikon’s safety, and earn a favourable spot near a bunch of kids. Seriously. When I say kids I mean it. They must be like ten years old. Is this the same Zico Chain I’ve been listening to on Spotify before leaving the house? Who let these kids out? Are they related to the band members maybe?

Next to me on my right side, a young female fan warns me and my lens that she’ll be jumping up and down a lot, and we get into a conversation about how she’s been looking forward to this, how disappointed she is about the choice of venue, how she’s been “converting” most of her mates and how she wishes she had done more and got them enough public to fill the bigger Academy. Street Team Leader? Next to her, a presumably middle aged man with a long beard and long grey–ish hair, holding tight to his front spot. Zico Chain surely attracts a diverse and passionate fan base.

While expecting some powerful, highly charged rock’n’roll to explode in the room, when ‘More than life’ starts it reminds me of Nirvana rather than Motorhead or System of a Down. As we go along with the set list, the Zico Chain guys prove to be extremely versatile and complete musicians, flirting at times with Hardcore Superstar like in ‘Rohypnol’, adopting a sound and vocals reminiscent of Marilyn Manson in ‘Where would you rather be’ and letting out a detonation of anger that would please Rage Against The Machine towards the end of their set. There’s screaming, but it’s powerful screaming coming from Chris Glithero’s guts, rather than an annoying exaggerated vomit sound from an abused sore throat, as I hear too often since Rammstein. The icing on the cake comes from Ollie Middleton’s terrific drum work, and everything is just rock perfect.

The mosh pit bursts out in all its glory, spreading back from the front row like a human tsunami and it’s time to bring my Nikon to safety. Walking towards the rear end of the auditorium, I curiously observe an audience made of all ages, genders and styles. Not everybody likes anger, but we all have some of it deep down. Zico Chain can get the demons out of you like exorcists and turn turn them into a powerful human fuel. You’ll leave their gigs recharged and smiling.

While waiting for their next full length, I would suggest you check out Zico Chain’ 2009 EP “These birds will kill us all” and keep an eye on their diary for a show near you. I definitely will.

Set list:
More than life
Preach
Junk
New Romantic
Mercury Gift
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Black turns to white
I am silence
Our Evil
These Birds will kill us all
Where would you rather be
Rohypnol
Bile & Blood
Pretty Pictures