Concert Review: Two Door Cinema Club @ O2 Arena, London- 13/12/2013

Two Door Cinema Club have risen to fame the good old-fashioned way, through hard work and innovative music. This is a sell-out gig at London's most famous venue, the 20,000 capacity O2 Arena that the Northern Irish threesome have been aiming for since they formed back in 2011. Two Door Cinema Club released their debut record in 2010', 'Tourist History' followed by 'Beacon', which hit UK and Irish shelves in August 2012 and peaked at number 2 in the UK Album Chart and 1 in Ireland. So it's no surprise that tonight's gig is an emotional milestone for the band and fans alike. It's also clear how grateful the band are for their progress and success in the industry.

Their irresistible sound and tone shoots to a start with one of Two Door Cinema Club's latest single 'Sleep Alone' , which rocks he crowd into submission. It's clear from the off that this night is going to be special for band and audience alike, with smoke, fireworks and confetti for the vert first song. The band have built-up their fan base and venue capacity over the last few years and this concert is a celebration of their achievements and music. Their live experience in terms of musical ability is impeccably rehearsed and tight, proving just how long the three members have known each other and the effect that childhood friendships have on work relationships too.

Lead vocalist Alex Trimble seems to lack enthusiasm to begin with, but his build-up of vigour and energy seems to multiply as the night goes on. All three members of the band have been together since their inception and all play their part with multiple instrument playing, for instance Trimble boasts lead vocals, synths, beats and rhythm guitar.

In terms of the crowd, when second track 'Undercover Martyn' begins, the enthusiasm for an old favourite is overpoweringly clear. Two Door Cinema Club's smart but straightforward use of catchy, radio-friendly rhythms and frantic melodies are embellished with wonderful stage presences from all members. 'Do You Want it All?' is the song that really gets the crowd going, with thousands of people belting out the lyrics in out of tune unison.

The band's mainstream success has been down to high street department store Debenhams August
2012 ad campaign with 'This is the Life' at the forefront. The track is full of all the brash optimism
that makes up the band's sound. What's really astounding to is the sheer diversity of  the. crowd, which is representative of the range of people who listen to Two Door Cinema Club. 

'Changing of the Seasons', which peaked at 33 in the UK Singles Chart showcases the band's electrifying use of electronics and synths in their work, which is performed in the most sleek,
professional manner imaginable. The upbeat yet contemplative track portrays lyrics that'd be at home
in any effective love song. It's soaring synths and heavily Indie hooks carry over to 'Wake Up' and
'Come Back Home', which are so full of euphoria it's astounding. And the pace of the fist-pumping,
bouncing crowd has yet to decline.

Trimble's wholesome yet powerful vocals are surprisingly dominant over the killer melodies and remarkable use of rhythms and back beats. 'Spring' is emotional without being dark, and the slick lasers and lighting. Given that this is the band's biggest show to date, they seem to be taking the
pressure utterly in their stride and using it to enhance their performance. 'Sun', pop-heavy 'I Can Talk'   
and 'Pyramid' prove just how confident the threesome are in their music now, their modest swagger is executed with as much finesse as their overall performance.

With his tranquil yet string vocals, signature red quiff and sparkly black jacket that'd be at home on a bingo caller, Alex Trimble is brimming with glee and confidence. Two Door Cinema Club's very first duet 'The World is Watching' with mediocre vocalist Valentina who fails to add much to the track live or on record. 'Next Year' and 'Something Good Can Work' illustrate a great sense of electric and energetic spirit that seem to charm the crowd into using the last of their energy up. The band keep their bubbly persona through 'Handshake' and the quirkily titled 'Eat That Up It's Good For You'. The songs bring the set to an end by proving how hard the band and their management have work on performance, sound and to please as much as the audience and critics as possible with the variety of tracks old and new.

For the inevitable encore made up of 'Someday', ' Cigarettes in the Theatre' and 'What You Know' is big and bold and everything an encore should be. With the crowd shrieking with delight and the band' s obvious happiness is something you rarely see at concerts. There was a lack of interaction with the crowd but that's not surprise given how many tracks Two Door Cinema Club had to get through. It was a special evening symbolic of the band's hard work, infectious music.

4/5

Boris Johnson- Greed is Good

At the end of last month, London’s Mayor Boris Johnson presented a speech promoting the positive value of greed combined with intelligence. He also went on it highlight the necessity for selective schools and stressed the significance of greed envy and overall inequality in our everyday lives. This has caused uproar for thousands of hard-working, successful but not necessarily academic Londoners. Consider the most intelligent person you know- are they also the most logical thinker you know with bucket-loads of common sense, a fantastic job and overall ecstatic with their life?

Johnson also went on to suggest that the most successful people are the greediest. He made the bold claim by fostering Thatcher’s stance of “the spirit of envy” as a key component in spurring on economic activity. That may be true but it cannot be denied that Boris Johnson constantly seems all too aware of his audience when speaking in public. For instance, this particular speech was held at the Annual Margaret Thatcher Lecture and logically, in order to secure more support from Tory right-wingers, Johnson did his homework so he knew the right things to say, as it were.  He even professed his adoration for Grammar Schools and pointed out that “…just 16% of our species have an IQ below 85…” and called for more to be done by governments to boost the 2% of people with an IQ over 130. 

Similarly, when running for Mayor of London originally, Eton-educated Johnson pinpointed the  importance of ticket offices and real people working on the Underground for the public’s safety and security. Yet more recently, Johnson has backed plans for ticket offices to be scrapped and some Underground services to run 24 hours a day. It seems the Mayor is either attempting to please all Londoners by going along with these plans, and consequentially causing anger and frustration from many, or simply does not know
what he’s doing. Now there’s a wasted private education.

After completing his speech, Boris Johnson informed the Centre for Policy Studies think tank, “…the harder you shake the pack the easier it will be for some cornflakes to get to the top.” Thanks Mr Johnson, but I can safety say most Londoners don’t want you anywhere near them, let alone close enough to shake them. He may pride himself on being one if the only politicians who can and will say the “unsayable”‘ but some things simply don’t need to be said because of their lack of importance, and let’s face it- truth.

In all seriousness, Boris’ use of rhetoric towards those less academically able was deeply offensive, especially the way that he referred to the uneducated and poorly educated as a kind of sub-species. The irony is, many people’s lack of opportunity in this country is down to politicians such as Johnson for not doing enough to really help education and unemployment rather than just their ‘official’ figures and statistics. So does this mean the incredibly intelligent, wealthy and powerful are to be well taken care of with little or no assistance left for the lower classes.

Education should be regarded as a right rather than a privilege and all children should be given the best start in life no matter their socioeconmic background. So rather than propose to help all 
Londoners reach their full potential, London’s Mayor disregarded the idea of giving opportunities to as many people as possible. Attempting to unlock all children’s and young people’s potential through decent education could very well helps rid the Capital of some of its current economic dilemmas, as well as those across the UK and overseas. Johnson’s current stance is likely to keep London and the UK in the rut we are in or even cause further divides between our people.

It has also recently been revealed in the press that Johnson has been writing a book whilst he has been in power, causing other MPs and PoliticIans such as Liam Bryne, the Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Great anger. Bryne said, “Every hour Boris…spent writing his book is an hour 
which be could have spent to make our streets safer and getting new investment and jobs in London.” He also stated that the Mayor is paid more than the Prime Minister. 

Despite Boris’ wacky notions, the fact is that it is straightforward enough it find the balance between greed for your business and simply remembering the fact that the business exists to make money. 
Londoners should be provided similar starts in life when it comes to education to eventually boost our economy, job market and general morale.