Not often in a school hall do you get a sneak peak at a British rapper’s upcoming single.
Yet Example knew he was on to a winner performing his next single in the middle of his gig at Brake Hall in Ashford School.
The 28-year-old announced he had only played Changed The Way You Kissed Me a couple of times before, knowing this would feed on the raw energy in the room on Friday, February 11.
That is something you only get with a crowd of rowdy teenagers throwing themselves into each other at an alcohol-free glorified school disco.
The song managed to goad the crowd into its angry lyrics with its almost Pet Shop Boys-style chorus mixed with the anthemic dance vibe of Faithless’ Insomnia.
Then after working them up into a frenzy, Example rewarded his faithful following with his signiture tune Kickstarts, proving he knows how to keep a crowd like putty in his hands.
In such a small venue, Example brought his chum DJ Wire to operate the turntables but the lack of a live band did not mean the atmosphere was any less electric.
It is amazing to think such an event has been put on by a small Ashford-based company like Intimacy Promotions.
The last two gigs have been from drum ‘n’ bass powerhouses Chase and Status and new rave band Hadouken!, showing the pedigree of the acts Brake Hall can attract.
Despite the tickets being on sale on major ticketing websites, the crowd was largely of school-going age. The lack of alcohol on sale does make anyone over the age of 21 feel slightly awkward but that is also, ironically, the good side of this gig.
As Example rounded off his set with a mash up of Calvin Harris’ I’m Not Alone, Faithless’ Insomnia and Blur’s Song 2 the crowd were simply high on life.
They turned up to see a music show and Example played it perfectly.
- A mention has to go to the support acts, who warmed up the crowd nicely.
After openers Lost in Colour got things underway, Bristol band Out Like A Lion showed off the jerky indie pop which earned them a Glastonbury slot last year.
The main support act was Ashford DJ Jack Le Roc, who had the crowd jumping to his electro house, dubstep and breaks mixes.
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Coming up in this week's What's On is an interview with surreal one-liner specialist Milton Jones.
The Mock The Week favourite - who has a penchant for outrageous shirts and hair gel - revealed in our chat that when he is not planning his life around gigs, his children and thinking up puns, he likes to spend his Tuesday evenings playing five-a-side football with other comedians in Crystal Palace.
He said: “It is just a kick-around, usually between Ireland and the Rest of the World. I go with Lee Mack, who lives just around the corner. Tim Vine plays, Russell Howard pops down when he can. He is probably the best individual player as we are all knocking on a bit.
“John Bishop and Chris Martin are very handy footballers, too. I like to think of myself as useless. Some who come haven’t really played much football and it can be pretty dangerous. Tim Vine really did his leg in recently. He heard something snap and hasn’t been back since.”
- Read the full interview with Milton Jones in this week's What's On inside your local KM Group paid-for newspaper.
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It's the Brits tonight so here are my picks for the major awards. You can either put bets on in the hope of landing some money on my music knowledge or laugh at me when I get them all wrong.
British Male Solo Artist: Plan B
British Female Solo Artist: Ellie Goulding
British Breakthrough Act: Tinie Tempah
British Group: Mumford & Sons
British Single: Tinie Tempah - Pass Out
MasterCard British Album of the Year: Plan B - The Defamation of Strickland Banks
International Male Solo Artist: Cee Lo Green
International Female Solo Artist: Rihanna
International Breakthrough Act: Bruno Mars
International Group: Arcade Fire
International Album: Cee Lo Green - The Lady Killer
British Producer: Stuart Price
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