by Kirsten Becker
I could be the biggest King Krule fan I know. Since discovering him in 2011 I have been completely obsessed with his completely unique brand of music. King Krule is largely a “love it or hate it” kind of artist, but there’s no denying his incredible talent. Archy Marshall, the 19-year old mastermind behind the project has created a sound all his own. His thick South East London accent doused in heavy reverb combined with hip hop beats and minimalist guitar riffs creates an almost dream-like kind of music. For someone so young, it’s almost astounding how intricately crafted each song on his debut LP 6 Feet Beneath the Moon really is.
Marshall’s December 7th stop in Philadelphia at Johnny Brenda’s was part of his first headlining tour in America, so it was obviously something I had been looking forward to for sometime. To add to the excitement, the show sold out months beforehand.
TOPS opened the show with their 60s-inspired indie rock sound. The Montreal band features ethereal and breathy vocals from Jane Penny over punchy pop guitars and drums. They played songs off of their first full length album, Tender Opposites, which came out last year.
Entering the stage at a little past 11 PM, King Krule took control with their moody brand of indie rock. The band played most of their songs from 6 Feet Beneath the Moon as well as some tracks from their 2011 self-titled EP, most notably the single “The Noose of Jah City.” The dim lighting added to the band’s dark aesthetic and Marshall’s frantic dance moves were a sight to see.
What really shone through was the talent of the band overall. Each member had fine tuned each riff and melody, everything just seemed to click. The show was definitely one of my favorites that I have yet to see. It is looking like things can only get better for King Krule, the wild success of his first album has catapulted him into the spotlight for sure.