The Morning After: NZCA/LINES' Birthday

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Photograph by Jonny Lee.

Ok so it wasn’t really Michael Lovett’s birthday last night, but he did grace the stage of the recently opened Dalston basement venue Birthdays as part of an expertly curated evening from Paint It Black London. Following one of the last solo performances from Rudi Zygadlo (before he goes and gets himself a band apparently) and what was clearly a practice effort from Raffertie, NZCA/LINES was in high spirits as he took the stage, despite the token post-work suits shouting the lyrics to ‘Call Me Maybe’ at obnoxiously loud levels.

With bassist and drummer in tow, the ex-Your Twenties bassist worked his way through a debut album heavy set, with ‘Okinawa Channels’ and ‘Work’ epitomising the influence producer Charlie Alex March had when he told Lovett to listen to nothing but R&B and classical composers. Eventually the knowledge that this gig is running over an hour late fades and, surging from sci-fi synths and high-pitched pop vocals to sternum shaking bass, closing number ‘Atoms & Axes’ finally has everyone moving their feet.

Setlist
New Song
Magnetic North
Okinawa Channels
Work
Moonlit Car Chase
Nazca
I’m Not Strong Enough
Patrol Late Back
Atoms & Axes

By Lauren Down