Hobo Johnson And The Lovemakers - KOKO, London 23.01.19

I'd heard some of Oliver Tree's EP ' Alien Boy' but I really didn't know what to expect from him live and I don't think anyone in the room was prepared for such a spectacle.

Bursting onto the stage on a scooter, they lit up the stage with their catchy hooks and Electronic/ Hip Hop fusion. Did I mention that he was on a scooter? With a ski mask. And a bowl hair cut. And head to toe in questionable 90's fashion choices?

But they know how to get a crowd hyped. Completed with some serious dance moves, they gave a memorable live performance and left the fans stunned and wanting more.

Chant of 'Hobo' rang through the theatre before anyone had stepped onto the stage and when the lights went up we were welcomed by the beaming faces of Hobo Johnson and The Lovemakers.

Back in March 2018, Hobo (real name Frank Lopes Jr) and his band The Lovemakers (Derek Lynch, Jordan Moore, David Baez-Lopez and Ben Lerch) uploaded their video for 'Peach Scone' as part of NPR's Tiny Desk Contest. And although they didn't win that year, they exploded onto the scene releasing their debut album 'The Rise Of Hobo Johnson' and later performed on an episode of Tiny Desk showcasing once more their eclectic and refreshing mix of Alternative Hip Hop and Spoken Word.

Frank and his band had the crowd singing along to every word with them as they played a mixture of tracks from the album such as ' Romeo & Juliet' and 'Father' before switching gears and stripping things back with a poem leaving the audience completely captivated. The boys then brought the energy back up with the Pop classic cover of 'Since You've Been Gone' which was welcomed with open arms.

Roses were thrown into the crowd and the passionate voices of the audience screamed 'I love the thought of being with you, or maybe it's the thought of not being so alone!' during 'Peach Scone'.

This night had gone from being just another live Hip Hop show to something much more intimate. Hobo Johnson and The Lovemakers connected with the audience and left us feeling vulnerable but also exhilarated and I can't wait to see them again.

Hobo Johnson - https://www.facebook.com/hobojohnson94Corolla/

Oliver Tree - https://www.facebook.com/OliverTreemusic/

Photos & Review - Luna Louise Photography