Live Review: Two Steps On The Water, Jaala, Kandere

Kandere open and the electronic hip hop duo embody a number of sounds of the modern era with notable trap, grime and a bit of neo-soul influence popping up in their music. Clearly humbled to be a part of the night's festivities, despite some holes showing, the young act deliver a set that shows potential; they just need a bit of refinement.  

Jaala follow and it's a change of tone as the group deliver a blend of indie-driven psych. But the band fail to make as much of a statement even when they're at their loudest. Their softer moments are the highlights. At times, Jaala's brought down through abrupt tempo changes that echo a Dirty Projectors chic (although not nearly as tight). The set peaks in its final third and while this is far from a bad set, when the band don't click 100% they tend to drag and fail to be as captivating live as their songs' ambitions. 

Anyone that has seen Two Steps On The Water live knows all that comes before - be it beers, friends or other bands - is just white noise preceding the storm. The band are launching the amazing LP God Forbid Anyone Look Me In The Eye — giving it a victory lap — and the room is packed.

Tonight, Two Steps On The Water are seasoned pros. They come across as a succinct unit with the musical sections taking more of a focus (perhaps also heightened by the structure of their set). Dynamics are a big part of this group's appeal and the loud peaks are driven less by screams and are more balanced out across the band. The sound is also on point allowing for heightened intimacy.

June Jones' banter is worth the entry price alone. The awful front bar soundtrack bleeds into the band room during quiet moments; a disrespectful oversight infringing upon the atmosphere. The band share new material from a forthcoming LP. A comparatively upbeat love song, it's quite playful in its construction and is debatably their hardest-to-define piece to date, although also the least emotionally draining (which could also be a sign of the band's current head space). Decade Of Disrepair (from God Forbid) is another highlight, capturing the youthful open-book tones of the recorded version and giving the band a more mature live face. 

After going over time, the set closes with no paint-stripping screams (ahem, Pissing In A River?) and feels short even though we have been charmed for about an hour. The more Two Steps On The Water show themselves, the more confident they become. One of this country's best-kept live secrets, Two Steps On The Water are creatively up there with anything going.