Tonight:
9°c
NEW: Some fares could fall by more than a third when Oyster is extended to every national rail station in London, it has emerged
More...
New Moon is nothing if not an international advertisement for the hungry virtues of virginity and young people can’t get enough of it
The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Theatre
A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion
Cock
Restaurants
Kitchen W8 is a bargain for this area, if such sophistication is what you crave
Kitchen W8
Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects
This is a peculiar play and does not work for me. Some of it is very funny but there are real flaws
Alex has a strong powerful voice and was faultless, she is far better now than she was on the X-Factor
London,
Critic rating
Reader rating
Description: The 11-piece Mancunian-Texan outfit showcase their brand of folk-influenced psychedelia.
Phone: 0207833 2022
Website: www.scala-london.co.uk
Trains: Tube/BR: King's Cross 
, Tube / Bus: 10, 17, 30, 45, 46, 63, 73, 91, 214, 259 
Extra info: Pub, Party Hire
Fine musicians: The Earlies remained eerily motionless throughout their gig at The Scala
One day after Neon Bible - Arcade Fire's second album - was released, a comparable act peddled a strain of melancholic, baroque-tipped romantic alt-rock, profuse with sweeping, brooding vocals and hints of the classical thanks to a feast of instruments.
Cellos, flutes, guitars, synthesisers, bongo drums, trombones, chimes, saxophones, French horns, trumpets and handheld keyboards blown into with tubes (answers on a postcard, please) were tinkled on by no fewer than 10 performers.
Which is, after all, the most obvious parallel between the Canadians and the Manchester/Texan outfit led by vocalist Brandon Carr.
But while Arcade Fire's gigs instigate dancing and leave fans sobbing for more, The Earlies' sombre sound saw devoted fans waiting politely until songs' completions to cheer. Even the band remained eerily motionless throughout.
While comparisons have been made to Manchester's psychedelic pop scene, Brandon's vocals had more in common with Elliott Smith, while the electronic melodies had a whiff of Air and entire songs harked back to Nick Drake.
I may have thumbed through my iPod to Neon Bible on my way home but it'll be The Enemy Chorus - The Earlies' enchanting current album - that I'll be listening to if I ever become a Romantic poet.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
