All Points East review: Amyl & The Sniffers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Strokes hit London

August 28, 2023

East London was the place to be on Friday ahead of the long weekend, as music lovers headed to All Points East in Victoria Park for a cracking line-up, topped by none other than NYC legends The Strokes.

After American singer-songwriter Angel Olsen delivered emotive folk rock with themes of introspection, melancholy and hopefulness, it was time for Aussie act Amyl and The Sniffers, who shifted the gears somewhat with their ripsnorting punk rock.

As a frontperson, Amy Taylor is an utter joy. She dominated the East Stage as the four-piece smashed through a visceral set which told relatable tales of small-town life.

Despite their sharp punk edge, lyrically the songs were punctuated by moments of romance and optimism. “My hand in your hand, I love breathin’ this fresh air,” Taylor sings in Hertz, while in Security, she asks “Security, will you let me in your pub? I’m not looking for trouble, I’m looking for love”.

Elsewhere, the romance is somewhat more abruptly requested: “Come on maggot, put your maggots in me,” she demands in Maggot, one of the standout tunes.

Even a mid-set downpour – during which the sound completely cut out for about a minute – did nothing to dampen the crowd’s spirits, as they sang along, moshed, danced and went abso-fucking-lutely nuts in various circle pits. All while soaked to the skin.

Despite playing under grey skies in a rainy London field, Amyl and The Sniffers managed to turn Victoria Park into a sweaty little dive bar for 45 minutes, and that’s one of the reasons we love them. Not only was their set the highlight of today’s All Points East, but one of the long-running festival’s all-time standout experiences.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by somethingusaid (@somethingusaid)

As the rain abated, Norwegian artist Girl in Red delighted fans on the West Stage with her indie-pop tunes such as Serotonin and I’ll Call You Mine, while, in the Cupra North Arena, London’s Black Midi delivered their fascinating sound, which weaved through art rock, avant-prog rock, math rock and post-punk, like some kind of indie-jazz experiment. However you define them (and good luck trying), their 2022 album Hellfire is worth your time if you have yet to listen.

Next, NYC’s Yeah Yeah Yeahs hit the stage. The iconic Karen O, guitar wizard Nick Zinner and drum legend Brian Chase played hits that spanned their two-decade career. Highlights included Gold Lion, Sacrilege and Zero, and, as a three-set closer, it surely doesn’t get much better than Maps, Heads Will Roll and Date With The Night. Karen O dedicated the former to the sadly departed Sinead O’Connor. This was a brilliant set from start to finish, and a touching moment as dusk turned to night.

Lastly, fellow New Yorkers The Strokes headlined the event. Their hotly-anticipated set on the West Stage saw some fans experience sound issues, depending on where they were standing, with some complaining that the band’s sound was neither clear enough nor loud enough. Towards the back of the field seemed to be the ideal spot though, and it was worth exchanging a close-up view for crisper sound, as the indie-rock heroes played a set so strewn with classics that they were able to throw Last Nite away as their third song.

The tracklist included the likes of Meet Me in the Bathroom, Juicebox and Reptilia, but it was the tunes from their seminal debut album, Is This It, which were the winners. Alone Together, Soma and Someday all sounded as fresh as they did back in the day, while encore songs Hard To Explain and the title-track Is This It prompted glorious singalongs from fans who still hold that first record close to their hearts.

And so, with clothes still sodden from that early evening downpour, the crowd filtered home in the knowledge that they’d witnessed some true indie legends and, in Amyl and The Sniffers, the stars of today and tomorrow.

Review and Instagram video by Bobby Townsend. The Strokes photo by Sharon Lopez.