Northern Irishmen Two Door Cinema Club sparked a night full of electronic rock at the House of Blues.
It’s not often that you see a front man strolling out onto the stage wearing a sharp blue smoking jacket with matching trousers and an electric yellow turtleneck, glass of red wine in hand. Peering down at the House of Blues crowd with a smirk and a knowing look—all while striking an over dramatic yet charming pose—Two Door Cinema Club vocalist Alex Trimble served up a taste of class as the band erupted into their set. Channeling some serious Wes Anderson vibes, the Northern Irish band embraced their unabashed quirkiness and played it up throughout the show, creating an infectiously fun, feverish atmosphere packed with synth and electronic melodies that that left no one standing still.
The band, fresh from performing a set in the thickly-packed fields of this summer’s Glastonbury Festival, is known as one of the United Kingdom’s best indie bands. Lead guitarist Sam Halliday and bass player Kevin Baird were masterfully in tune with Trimble, charging through licks and chords, playing off each other as the crowd jumped in time. The ever-changing backdrops of the set, bright blues, reds, and oranges with telephones and hazard signs flashing on the screen (to fit their new record, False Alarm, and its vibrant aesthetic), were a major highlight of the gig. These Irishmen know how to put on a show without being cocky or over-the-top: their confidence and connection with the audience is genuine and refreshing to see. Red and orange strobe lights panned across the audience as the band began the set with “Talk.” The wonky pop hit’s throbbing beat ignited the show, kicking off a set list brimming with hits both old and new.
After the opening track, the turtleneck-clad Trimble took a moment to step back and sip his wine with a small smile on his face, all while asking the audience, “Hey Boston, a little hot in here, isn’t it?” eliciting laughter from the packed crowd. Trimble’s wit and charismatic banter served as a perfect break in the barrier between musician and concert-goer.
As Two Door Cinema Club breezed through their set list, playing “This Is The Life,” “Cigarettes in the Theatre,” and “Dirty Air,” Trimble danced and posed to coincide with the lyrics he sang; these stylized, carefully-orchestrated movements created a theatrical performance—one that conjured passion, laughs, and an infectious positivity. Trimble’s vocals, oozing with post-punk harmonies, synced smoothly with the band’s quirky aesthetic. His impressive vocal range (especially during “Do You Want It All?”) and ability to reach high notes was noted by audience members, the girl beside me saying to her friend, “how does he go that high?”
As the night drew to a close, Two Door Cinema Club played through their tracks with the fiery energy as if it were the first. The opening notes of 2010’s hit “What You Know” erupted from the amps, and the audience went wild, jumping and singing back to Trimble and his band before he could even utter a note. The band followed the wave of electric excitement with the last few catchy-hooked tunes on the set list, “Satellite,” “Something Good Can Work,” and “Sun.”
By the end of the show, Two Door Cinema Club proved their title as “one of the UK’s best indie bands.” They have a staggering ability to ensnare the audience with their wit, positive vibes, crisp vocals, and poppy, electronic-infused guitar licks. Trimble’s idiosyncratic stage presence, matched with Baird and Halliday’s impressive guitar work, are a pleasure to watch: their quirkiness is genuine, and they’re just happy to be partying with their fans.