Who would have thought that of all of the concerts I’ve witnessed in Europe so far, an Islands show in Prague would be the one I would have the most difficulty getting into because of the dreaded word “capacity”? I arrived at the “club”, or more accurately the basement of a college dormitory, a good half hour before Islands took the stage for, surprisingly, an opening act time slot. Already the place was packed enough that their meager coat check room was filled to the brink and standing room only was the norm. Low ceilings and dense cigarette smoke (I guess one of the few EU nations who don’t care about 2nd hand smoke) was a trademark of the venue making me relive all of the horrific news ticker “Dozens Die in Horrific Club Fire” headlines from the past.
All concerns and emergency exits plans were forgotten once Islands took the stage. Playing their patented crisp indie-pop grooves, the band was able to work around their claustrophobic inducing small stage quarters to give the audience a great show. Unfortunately, the crowd didn’t return the favor posing instead to be more nonchalant than excited, something I definitely didn’t expect from such an overflowing group of college kids. Regardless, Islands were able to churn out hit after hit (I’m looking at you “Creeper” and “The Arm”) while keeping the crowd between “arms crossed” and “nodding level” of entertained.
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