Pixel Fix & As Elephants Are LIVE @ AKA, Banbury 7.2.13

It was a stormy Friday evening, but that didn’t stop the crowds from flooding into Banbury venue AKA. This cosy bar homed the mass of people who had all come to see Pixel Fix play their hometown gig.

Main support came from Buckinghamshire band As Elephants Are (played with Jaws and Half Moon Run). This four piece are the latest indie buzz-band; after gracing the summer stages of Reading and Leeds festival, catching the attention of Huw Stephens and getting some seriously airplay on Xfm.

They immediately launched into ‘Lucifer’ beginning the night with chilled out vibes, which pulled people away from the bar and into the audience.. They continued to play songs from their upcoming EP with an intermission of Notting Hill carnival inspired single, ‘Crystal’.

Their stage presence was somewhat still at that awkward, lanky teenage boy phase, but I’m sure as their fan base grows and the audience revs up their energy, the band will reciprocate. The boys’ matching outfits were sweet yet overwhelmingly hilarious, clearly coordination on 3for2 knitted jumpers occurred.

However, I can’t fault their music- only the desire to hear more during their set. As Elephants Are have omitted one of their more popular songs from their set list, which is slightly frustrating for fans of the track. I could see them a hundred times and my one request would be the same: I want to hear them sing elusive ‘Youth Blood’. I think if we persist they have to play it one day…

As Elephants Are set the bar high for Pixel Fix as they finished with crowd pleaser ‘War Cry’, not to be mistaken as ‘Ear Cry’ or ‘Wolf Cry’ *cough cough BBC introducing *. This song showcases a blistering slice of pioneering and atmospheric indie-rock that the band just keeps churning out. The spaced out guitars combine perfectly with front man Ben Stratford’s distant, dreamy vocals in a song that would feel at home in stages much bigger than that of their upcoming tour in March.

After the long awaited arrival Pixel Fix jumped on stage and the audience was immediately buzzing. They dived into their repertoire of songs playing new single ‘Fall’ and older songs ‘Lake’ and ‘Ember’. They possess the most exciting electro around and have toured with Crystal Fighters, The 1975 and JAWS. My inebriated self dictated the most accurate description of their music I could give; it begins mellow, but when the beat drops you want to smear horrendously tacky, neon paint all over your body and rock out for hours.

They left us with song ‘Rosa’, and to the unfamiliar it presents a wave-like ambience, with that slow distinctive beat and relaxed vocal until it hits you, HARD. Explosions of guitar and pounding percussion filled our ears and got the better of the crowd as we skanked it out. Singer Marcus Yates’ constant head banging made sure no one felt out of place if they wanted to bust a move and the rest of the band joined in.

The last time I saw Pixel Fix they were head to toe in fancy dress, sombreros and the lot. I was expecting big things for their fancy dress game this time, but they severely lacked in that department. Apologetic Marcus speculated the idea that they’ll spice it up for their upcoming tour, which includes a date supporting Young Kato. These boys are going to be huge, with lots of exciting things to be announced, you best catch them whilst you can.

Fran Welch

Fran Welch

I'm musically inept- my only option left is to endlessly rant about other beautiful human beings making tuneful noise. hmu for the latest indie bands and a cracking playlist