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Django Django & Kwes playing a BV pre-SXSW show in NYC

by Bill Pearis

Django Django

We’ve been waiting to see Scottish quartet Django Django ever since hearing their debut single two years ago, so Brooklyn Vegan is pleased as punch to be presenting with Popgun Booking the group’s first-ever U.S. show at Glasslands on Saturday, March 10. It’s a late show (doors 11:30), happening after the Daughter performance early that night, and will also feature the Stateside debut of Warp artist Kwes.. Consider this our pre-SXSW kickoff party. Tickets are $10 and on sale now.

Led by drummer/singer/producer David Maclean, Django Django released their debut single “Storm/Love’s Dart” in late 2009. Back when bands still used MySpace, in the “influences” section, Django Django posted thumbnails of 168 albums, ranging from The Beach Boys’ Smiley Smile, the first Fun Boy 3 LP, the Blade Runner soundtrack and the Beta Band’s Hot Shots II and there’s a definite kitchen sink mentality to their music. It’s all basically danceable guitar pop, but anything goes.

Relocating to London, the band took their time releasing their debut album, which was released a few weeks ago on Because Music (home of Metronomy, Busy P and more) and is one of the more fun, inventive pop LPs to come down the pike in a while. Influences in a Cuisinart, yes, but cohesive. Django Django get compared to the Beta Band a lot, and there’s a similar vocal style and groove, but DD are a little more focused and hyperactive. It’s a great album.

You can stream Django Django’s debut via Spotify buy it digitally from Bleep, Emusic or the retailer of your choice. (No physical versions in the U.S. yet.) There are also videos for recent singles “Default” and “Waveforms” you can watch at the bottom of this post. After visiting New York, Django Django head to SXSW so if you’re gonna be in Austin in a month, do check them out.

Kwes.

Opening is London’s Kwes, who has made a name for himself as a go-to producer, working with The XX, DELS, Damon Albarn, Micachu, The Invisible and others. After a couple singles on Young Turks/XL, Kwes signed to Warp who will release the Meantime EP in May. While you wait for that to come out, you can download non-EP track “Get Up” via a widget at the bottom of this post. Also down there is the installment of Vice’s “Producers” video series featuring Kwes, which is well worth watching.

Django Django – Default
Django Django – Default

Django Django – Waveforms