It’s been seven months since The Big Moon released debut album ‘Love in The 4th Dimension’ and every show has seen the same fizzying, chemical excitement bubble over on stage. There’s been no lull, no motions to go through, and no moment where it’s felt like The Big Moon aren’t having the most fun possible on stage.
Yet still, tonight as they take to a very busy, very vocal, very buzzing Koko in London, Cee, Jules, Fern and Soph somehow find the time, space and energy to have more joy than ever before. That grin’s commanding.
Of course the fun is felt before The Big Moon even take to the stage flanked by Robbie Williams’ Millenium’. First up it’s Get Inuit, playing “probably the last show Get Inuit’s ever going to play,” perhaps ahead of a name change, a cruel joke or the continuation that everything you hold dear will leave you and let you down, but even that doesn’t get in the way of their sparking quest for a good time.
The fuzzy feel great of ‘Mean Heart’ comes into focus against a static background before the band twist, shock and shimmy their way through a set that crackles with silly unpredictability and undeniable pleasure. ‘All My Friends’ is slanted and edged, new song ‘So Soon’ is a riotous smile and ‘Electrify’ manages actual menace before it too swells and bursts with the ridiculous while the triple header of ‘Teriyaki’, ‘Barbiturates’ and ‘Pro Procrastinator’ are celebrations of the self, bringing all those present into the warmth. It feels wonderful.
Launching straight into ‘Silent Movie Susie’, The Big Moon aren’t wasting any time. There’s none to spare, not when there’s a carnival to be had. Jules is already leaning into the crowd, teasing the most out of night and from the front to the back, every song is a reason to cheer, a piece of the band to hold dear.
‘Love In The 4th Dimension’ and ‘Zeds’ let things get tender, confidently strutting about and showing off their heart as ‘Happy New Year’ explodes with rock star flourish and a hands-on-the-heads moment for Jules as she looks around, trying to work out if tonight is even real. “I can’t believe how many of you there are,” she laughs. The disbelief in neon letters. The excitement solid and something to build around.
The band take little moments for themselves, huddling together around Fern at the end of ‘The Road’ or sharing a wink, grin or giggle midsong, knowing that they’ll want this to last forever. The first song the band ever wrote ‘Eureka Moment’ is thrashed about, torn apart and reassembled.
They also can’t stop themselves hurtling forward. A cover of ‘Total Eclipse Of The Heart’ and their own ‘Something Beautiful’ see the band dial up the rose tints while a robust, soaring finale that starts with ‘Cupid’ and goes via a fierce ‘Formidable, and bonkers ‘Bonfire’ before settling at the shiny, teeth-baring ‘Sucker’ does away with the glasses and falls completely head over heels.
Moments to get lost in, moments that are eternal, The Big Moon are a force of sheer wonder, magnetic charm and absolute delight. Their shows are the perfect attack against a world gradually dimming and tonight, focal, united, glittering, is a powerful reminder of just how important standing together can feel.