Live review: The Drums @ Hoxton Bar and Kitchen, London (5/9/11)

INDIE-pop darlings The Drums showcased new material from Portamento with a typically flamboyant live show at the Hoxton Bar and Kitchen, Shoreditch, on Monday.
Rejuvenated with a new live line-up, which sees Myles Matheny enter the fold and Connor Hanwick moving from drums to guitar, The Drums efficiently tore through a set list comprised of Portamento powerhouses and a smattering of old favourites.
Opening with the infectiously catchy What You Want, arguably Portamento’s stand out track, the close-knit crowd - despite being relatively new to the sophomore material - were treated to rousing renditions of Book of Revelation, Hard to Love and Days.
Portamento’s themes of lovelorn struggles and airy 80s-synths may steer The Drums away from sun-drenched pop perfected sound of their debut and away from the surf-popsters tag, but it was monster hits such as Me and the Moon, Best Friend and Don’t Be a Jerk, Jonny, from the Summertime! EP, that provided the night’s stand-out moments.
Pierce’s extravagant and mesmerising stage presence that makes him such an alluring frontman was, sadly, subdued and the decision to omit trans-Atlantic hit Let’s Go Surfing would have left a few fans scratching their heads.
Catching a live performance from The Drums is a shoe-in for a good night; they sound polished, the line-up shuffle has transformed them into a tighter live band, and the strength of Portamento should see them embark on a whole new direction of credibility.