"No Quick Getaway" - French Exit, live at O2 Academy Islington, London (September 2024)
Date of event: 28 September 2024
With French Exit lighting up the stage at O2 Academy Islington, time stood still, with no quick getaway possible from a night of emerging indie talent brought together by Inpop Presents.
This band of actual brothers (comprising the Langston trio of Will, Toby, and Tim, plus their buddy Jack on drums) brought a sweet slice of soaring, shoegazey indie pop-rock to proceedings, showing promise and propulsive grooves as a live act.
French Exit live at O2 Academy Islington in LOndon
Much of this is down to familial chemistry between the South London lads, drawing from post-punk influences such as Shame and Fontaines D.C., but with siren-like guitar leads from “Hot Rod” Toby and an earnest tenor from younger sibling Will on vocals.
French Exit live at O2 Academy Islington in LOndon
Standouts from French Exit’s setlist were:
the anthemic debut single ‘Still’, a pop-leaning piece with a perky pre-chorus that roars into a catchy singalong
the follow-up ‘Dreaming’, which takes things in a more melancholic mid-tempo direction while maintaining the passionate delivery
With the band only forming in early 2023, this was one of the biggest stages they’ve been on yet, after performances at venues in the capital like The Half Moon in Putney and the Windmill in Brixton. The group’s work has also appeared on the airwaves for BBC Introducing, the national broadcaster’s platform supporting unsigned, undiscovered, and under-the-radar UK music talent.
So French Exit’s future is looking bright, and they continue to build on their back catalogue. Some of these works-in-progress were showcased on the O2 Academy stage, including ‘Yes’ and ‘Crumble’, and although we don’t know if their studio answers are near, hopefully they sure ain’t far.
For fans of guitar-geared indie that balances pop smarts with garage-band grit, this is definitely a British band to keep an ear out for.