LIVE REVIEW: Lukas Graham: The Borderline, 20/06/2012

Danish foursome, Lukas Graham, consisting of Lukas (vocals), The Captain (keyboards), Lovestick (drums) and Magnum (bass), know how to put on a live show. They played their first ever UK date at The Borderline on the 20^th June, and it was a show not worth missing for any fans, especially when Magnum decided to play most of the show topless. The band is a great mix of soul and funk, with Lukas boasting some amazing vocals.

Before The Morning and Ordinary Things started the set, and Lukas’s vocals sounded brilliant, with the music slightly softer to really make the vocals stand out. Both were sung beautifully, and Ordinary Things really had the fans going. It was the band’s first major hit, last year, and as it was slightly faster and catchier, had the fans singing along. All four members of the band seemed completely comfortable on stage, and Lukas in particular had a great way with words while talking to the crowd.

The rest of the set was performed without flaw, and with the band and fans having a lot of fun throughout the whole gig. The atmosphere at The Borderline was buzzing the whole way through, and even stayed upbeat throughout the slower tracks. There were fantastic solos from both Magnum and Lovestick on their respective instruments, and Lukas’s vocals sounded spectacular and really powerful, especially during another hit, Criminal Minds. It is such a beautiful song, and the crowd had a great time singing along to the song.

The band, has a whole, are very talented, and managed to switch between fast and fun songs, with some slower, more ballad style ones. Nice Guy, especially, was when the band really got the crowd on their feet. It was a fast paced song and so much fun to listen to, and clearly a favourite of the band to play. The environment during the song was lively, fun and the cheeky lyrics about a nice guy being too nice that he doesn’t get the girl were hilarious to listen to.

They slowed it down again with Red Wine, the slowest song on their set and album. It’s a love song, and they even had a girl come up on stage, with red wine, while Lukas serenaded her.

The set ended with Drunk in the Morning, which is, by far, best song from the band. It was a hit in Denmark and the laidback video on YouTube became an internet sensation. It was definite favourite of both the crowd and the band, with the atmosphere reaching a new level of high and fun, with everyone singing and dancing around.

The gig was really well done, with a great mix of slow and fast paced song. They four boys are really talented with lovely chemistry between the band and with the crowd, when Lukas spoke. He really knew how to get the crowd going and it only took the opening song to have the whole venue under his control. We can only hope they make another appearance in London soon.