Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs – XOYO, 10th November 2011

Seeing as we’ve been raving about them for a while, the BBM team headed down to XOYO, London, to witness Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs in action last Thursday.

XOYO was pretty empty when we arrived, with the support act barely gathering a crowd. A quick trip to freshen up and bam! A huge chunk of crowd had instantly appeared, as if from no where. As we pondered our current alcohol to empty glass ratio, and figured we needed at least two more pints, we quickly realized we better start getting a wiggle on if we were to secure prime position. Camera in hand we snaked our way through the crowd and up to the barriers of the stage. And no, we didn’t care about who had got there early enough commandeer the nearest spots available to the stage, we were there to review!

Laptops at the ready, Orlando Higginbottom (aka Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs) took to the stage, naturally sporting a huge dinosaur costume, interest was instantly piqued as you realized the dinosaur gimmick isn’t just a fun name.

The cheerful electro beats began to pulse through at the pleasant rhythm synonymous with his music. You could tell there were a fair few die hard fans in the crowd, (as well as a floppy fringed Matt Horne) as we witnessed them getting more and more whipped up as his set continued.

Running between laptops and occasionally taking to the mic with his pale and relaxed vocals almost reminiscent of early Hotchip and Metronomy, Oxford born Higginbottom certainly looked like he was having fun. Like a child playing dress up in his dinosaur costume, you couldn’t help feel that the up-and-coming producer was living out all his boyish dreams.

The highlight came as light infused balloons danced across the ceiling, and two more dinosaur-clad girlies danced either side of the stage. ‘Garden’ was here. The song that everyone had come for (which you might recognize from the recent Nokia ads.) The crowd was his, succumbing to the electronic and gently synthy bliss that entered. Soon picking up with his trademark use of beloved bass looping effortlessly up and down in an epically playful manner that instantly induces happiness.

Quite frankly if tonight was anything to go by, we can’t wait to hear what else Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs have to offer.

Make sure you catch Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs Field Day 2012.

By Hannah Shakir

Images by Nick Crew