Antony Szmierek entertains at London’s KOKO
The Manchester-born wordsmith delivers a euphoric show at one of London’s most iconic venues.
Photo: @zak_watson
“You like big words over dance tunes, do ya?”, Antony Szmierek asks the crowd at Camden’s iconic KOKO, who are clinging to his every word. The Mancunian poet commands the room as he and his band — Martin Szmierek (guitar), Robin Parker (keys), and Tom Sainsbury (bass) — make their way through the set, kicking off with the title track from his recently released debut album, Service Station At The End Of The Universe.
The stage setup is unique: a Boiler Room-esque dynamic as a crowd assembles on the stage behind Szmierek and his band, who remain a step below, arm’s reach from the audience. Szmierek has a rare talent for making his live shows feel like a long overdue gathering with mates. From family members and journalists to loyal listeners, he takes the time to point out and namecheck the familiar faces dotted around the venue – a skill picked up from his previous profession as an English teacher. Even if this was your first time seeing him, you feel like you know him well.
The audience are engaged for the entirety of the set, bopping along to the irresistible dance beats under KOKO’s glittering disco ball. With his polished stagecraft, Antony delivers his honest, inspirational lyrics well as he glides through Working Class, Rock and a Calm Place, and Yoga Teacher. Despite the latter being one of the calmer songs amongst the set, the crowd give it their all. The nostalgic warmth of Twist Forever is followed by a cover of Robbie Williams’ Feel, a diversion from Antony’s discography, which fits in effortlessly on the setlist.
Szmierek doesn’t shy away from joining the crowd for a dance on multiple occasions, pausing his flow to say hello and hug more of those familiar faces. As the end crawls closer, Antony continues to keep the crowd on their toes, disappearing from the stage during Rafters, and reappearing from the sound desk on KOKO’s first balcony.
The room is bouncing as the set ends strong with Take Me There and finally The Words to Auld Lang Syne. Szmierek encourages the audience to treat it as if it really were New Year’s Eve, to give their mates a hug and tell them how much they love them. The immaculate set ends with a sense of optimism and pure euphoria, as Szmierek and his band take a bow. “That felt extra special,” he comments during the show. It was exactly that.