On 10th October, Kula Shaker graced the stage of Camden’s Koko with their unique style of psychedelic, nineties rock. Despite being out on the road touting about their latest offering Strangefolk, the show focused largely on the band’s 1996 breakthough K, opening the show with a stomping performance of ‘Hey Dude’. Rather than being a copout, this approach allowed the band to give a strong performance and reminded fans, who had devotedly dusted down their bootcut jeans, just how good Kula Shaker really are.

Despite stinking of nineties nostalgia, watching Kula Shaker perform outside the context of Britpop, demonstrates not only how relevant they still are but what a good band they are. While they might evoke memories of a time when it was still ok to like The Spice Girls, their psychedelic rock style has more in common with current artists such as Caribou or Devendra Banhart than it ever did with more successful contemporaries such as Oasis. Perhaps being in lumped in with Oasis, Ocean Colour Scene et al is the reason why, despite being a musically competent and interesting band, Kula Shaker never quite made it as big as they deserved. This was particularly evident as they jammed their way through ‘Jerry was There’, and new songs, ‘Out on the Highway’, and ‘Second Sight’.

Kula Shaker kept the surreal, psychedelic feel of the show consistent, not only with image projections and Etonian outfits, but by opening the proceedings with the legendary Dr Joel (pictured). If you have not heard Dr Joel live, you should remedy that asap, as his performance really is something quite special.

Dr Joel combines the traditional Indian vocal style of ‘Konnakol’ with witty, obscure lyrics, such as ‘I am Human Viagra’, accompanied by a one-man band of keyboard and percussion. Having used his incredible, unique style to build himself a cult status, playing around Bath and Bristol where Kula Shaker front man Crispian Mills is known to lurk, Dr Joel landed himself the support slot on Kula Shaker’s UK tour.

After wowing crowds all over England with his musical charms, Joel had the crowd at Koko lapping him up, roaring enthusiastically along to ‘Ravenous Like a Tiger’, and adding howling vocal accompaniment to the soon-to-be-classic-if-there's-any-justice-in-the-world ‘Howl Like a Wolf’. If you haven't seen Dr. Joel, you really should. He's immensely entertaining, and you'll probably learn plenty about Indian music during one of his informative interludes. You certainly don’t get that from your average indie band, do you?

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