Tilly and the Wall
Live at The Old Blue Last, Shoreditch, 15 February 2006

The latest band to emerge from the burgeoning Omaha folk scene are sun-drenched quintet Tilly and the Wall. Fully endorsed by luminary hallmark of credibility Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes, himself in attendance tonight, the band’s UK tour was sold out weeks in advance. Upstairs at the Old Blue Last, perhaps Shoreditch’s smallest gig venue, two hundred expectant fans are tripping over the stage with anticipation.

Not reliant upon their credentials however, the band are a remarkably convincing and musically tight outfit from the outset. Tap dancing on specially created sound boxes acts as a replacement for more conventional percussion, often dismissed by critics as a gimmick. However as the set moves on, it’s clear that the dancing can only add depth to what is already a unique sound, and more entertainment than any drummer could ever provide. A mix between contemporaries Rilo Kiley and Bright Eyes themselves, Tilly charge through a set filled with what can only be described as kitsch genius, effervescent stage presence fizzing off the stage as the girls invite us into their endearing world of amateurish yet infectious pop.

Charming and unassuming, with style oozing from their tap shoes, it’s only a matter of time before Tilly and the Wall’s bittersweet pop rockets to the top of our indie charts.