hot chip

The crowd suitably warmed up, the band amble on – Taylor resplendent in a white suit, Joe Goddard grinning and clutching a bottle of pink Champagne – and launch into a pumping ‘Shake a Fist’. It’s one of several tracks played from the new album Made in the Dark, the whole of which translates well to the live setting – particularly ‘Wrestlers’, where Goddard gets to indulge his inner love god, and ‘Touch Too Much’, which tonight has an urgency not present on the record. Predictably, the crowd go nuts for’ Over and Over’ and ‘Ready for the Floor’. They’re not the only ones enjoying themselves. The band are having a ball: Al Doyle stage-dives while Goddard pounds away at his keyboard like Nigel from EastEnders on speed. Hot Chip love a soppy ballad, of course, and they throw a few into the mix, though they’re not so well received by a crowd that just wants to dance. The delicate soul of ‘Made In the Dark’ is an odd choice to begin the encore but they pick up the pace with a jubilant ‘No Fit State’ – and, by this stage, it’s a fitting way to describe many of the revellers. Get ‘em while they’re hot.