WORTH A LOOK?: ***
WHERE? Victoria Park
WHEN? 26/5 and runs to 2/6/19 (Christine and the Queens tour until 31/8/19)
We 1st saw Christine and The Queens the morning after the Brexit vote and here the French act take to the stage as the results of the unexpected 2019 European elections are announced.
- Read on for reasons including whether the sound had improved since criticism on Saturday night
Two-day music festival Lovebox moved from its east London home last year to make way for the lengthier All Points East which is 2 months earlier in the inner city music festival calendar. All Points East is in its 2nd year and was reeling as we arrived from widespread criticism of the poor sound blighting the appearance of The Strokes on Saturday night.
Well, the sound was perfect tonight and 1st we saw Metronomy – who we last enjoyed at OnBlackheath in 2017 – who are playing a similar set interwoven with new material which sits well within its unusual but hugely infectious electronica.
New songs Wedding Bells reminds of showstopper Love Letters, new single Lately maintains the successful quirky pop template of the band’s best known work and we thought Salted Caramel Ice Cream evoked Greased Lightning from film/musical Grease.
Christine opens similar way to when we last saw her in November at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith with actual fizzing sparklers on stage and a glitter cannon that goes off in song 4.
There’s a walkway into the crowd which Christine and her fine dancers utilise despite the shower surely making it precarious just before she takes to the stage.
Frontwoman Héloïse Letissier brings to mind Michael Jackson in his heyday with her dance moves as she and her troup whip gracefully in formation across the stage.
She also talks a good gig galvanising the crowd but we’re looking for stronger material than we have at present on latest album Chris and debut Chaleur Humaine.
Overall, All Points East is not quite as peppered with fine acts as Lovebox and seems a little early in the season with several showers during the few hours that we were on site. But the poor sound it has been criticised for was not at all in evidence on Sunday night.
monstagigz 
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