New duo The Itch debuts with gleefully anarchic headline gig

A ravishing debut headline performance from new London duo The Itch paved the way for a dizzying sonic revolution.

Held at underground London venue The Social, the pair’s genre-straddling Wednesday show was a not-to-be-missed debut. With performances lined up at a string of festivals later this year, The Itch are bound to be a fast-growing musical sensation.

Supported by four additional band members, the duo’s sold-out set opened with captivating electronic beats, with a catchy opening song carried by a repeating mantra, “There’s a space in the cab and I want you to know”. As the track swelled into an explosive peak, the six-piece brought unbridled energy to the stage, marking a strong opening to what would evolve into a night of unique musical exploration.

A string of swirling, built-up sounds followed, as the post-punk band stirred up a delicious fusion of rock and electronic music.

Throughout the night, the exotic performance proved that music doesn’t have to fit within a single identity.

Visceral rock hits were backed by some of the most impressive percussive performances we’ve seen live this year. The group swerved between heavier tunes and groove-fuelled beats, embedding bold political injections at points, singing, “We could bring down the government, we could put their heads on spikes.”

As the set progressed, further impassioned songs swelled into delightfully anarchic cacophonies, while funkier tunes exhibited more rhythmic, percussive richness.

The six piece was soon joined by an additional performer, who added an expressive piece of spoken word over the top of the group’s track.

Stand-out song No More Sprechgesang brought an even edgier feel to the set, imbued with expressive repeated vocals and rhythmic cowbells.

Before the final song, the group performed a steadier, groovier beat. Named Switch It Off, the tune featured spoken lyrics dissecting the overwhelming nature of existence.

A funk-like closer followed, which carried a more retro-techno feel packed with 80s-inspired sounds, before synthy swellings exploded into an extended instrumental closing.

Taking a progressive jab at the boundaries of electronic music and generating one hell of a buzz while doing so, The Itch are forging a wild, experimental path towards enthrallingly genre-defying chaos.

Photography by Emma Last.