There’s something undeniably fresh about the Irish three-piece group Two Door Cinema Club. Their upbeat rock/electro tracks fit nicely into the niche between pop and rock, with songs that are both new-sounding and firmly grounded in the ‘80s revival. They are a band who bring a smile to your dial, and they continue to move from strength to strength.
The band began playing together in 2007; founding members Alex Trimble and Sam Halliday had attended the same school in Northern Ireland. After dabbling with some other musical projects, the pair met Kevin Baird and began playing under their new name. Two Door Cinema Club released their first EP in 2009 to generally positive reviews, garnering the band the right amount of attention. They began playing more gigs in their native country and soon branched out to play some of the most well-known venues in England and Scotland.
After a thorough recording process in both England and France, the band released their first album, Tourist History, in February 2010. The album was a huge success, earning them considerable radio play in the UK and, crucially, also in the US. The singles ‘Something Good Can Work’ and ‘I Can Talk’ were particularly popular with the latter, clocking up more than 6 million views on YouTube alone. In January 2011, the band was invited to play on popular US talk show ‘Late Night with Jimmy Fallon’ − a measure of their growing popularity with American audiences.
Despite being a three-piece and not having a permanent drummer, the band has an explosive amount of energy that translates well on stage. They use synthesised drums perfectly to accentuate their own talents, with the two guitars and bass working in unison to produce a surprisingly full sound. Their songwriting is tight and well-structured with catchy choruses that make good use of their bright vocal harmonies.
Their second record, Beacon, was released in August last year and has sold well in both Europe and the States. Working with the renowned producer Jacknife Lee of U2 and Snow Patrol fame, the album has received critical acclaim with the singles ‘Sleep Alone’ and ‘Sun’ both selling well. Several songs have been used in large-scale commercials and have also appeared in well-known video games.
The fact that the band have played at festivals such as Glastonbury and Lollapalooza is testament to their live prowess. With more festivals planned, the band show no sign of slowing down, playing as far away as Australia. And possibly their highest accolade so far was when singer Alex Trimble performed at the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, where he collaborated with Underworld’s Rick Smith.
What you get with this band is a taste of where many young acts are heading. Their fresh sound is addictive, and it’s pleasing to watch a band that don’t take themselves too seriously. Expect loads of energy from a group of lads who genuinely enjoy what they’re playing.
Two Door Cinema Club
Amager Bio, Øresundsvej 6, Cph S; Mon 20:00; Tickets: 220kr, www.billetlugen.dk
