It's Tuesday evening in Camden, but a few nights since the Camden Crawl raged. Bath-based quintet Kill It Kid are in town for their second ever London show (and first before midnight, as it happens). Slowly but surely the crowd are gathering, imminently rewarded with one of the most stupendous, blistering support sets this scribe has had the chance to enjoy for some time.
Recalling the primal delta blues appropriated with much success by the likes of the White Stripes and Two Gallants in recent years, the heft of this association might set the band up for a fall were it not so powerfully and passionately rendered. An opening acoustic stomp featuring naught but Chris Turpin and Stephanie Ward (who take dual lead vocals / guitar and keys respectively) is fine indeed and reins in hearty applause as remaining members grace the stage. As the show unfurls it becomes quickly apparent that technically the group are thoroughly, thoroughly accomplished – given that four-fifths of them currently study music in one form or another this should come as no surprise – though more than that (and key in their appeal) is the wonderfully innate nature in which they gel together.
Violins fizzle with energy and the drumming is tremendous, though the talking point of Kill It Kid – and if tonight is any indication they'll be talked about aplenty – is likely to fall predominantly on Turpin's shoulders. A naturally gifted guitarist he may be, it's in his voice that he astounds. A guttural bellow belying his slight frame; echoes of Antony Hegarty and a hundred grizzled old blues veterans inform the sound emanating from this front-man, who leads the band with unnerving confidence for one so young. It offsets Ward's sultry purr admirably, and by the time the band launch into their closing number half the audience are complying with the hand-claps offered onstage. Promising doesn't even begin to cut it, quite frankly.

James Skinner

Unusual moniker aside, Kill It Kid are blessed with innumerable strengths. Channelling the old school, delta-blues stomp of turn-of-the-century troubadours such as Blind Willie Johnson and wrapping it up in a contemporary package thrillingly unique – reminiscent of The White Stripes perhaps. With soul-searching lyrics relayed in Chris Turpin's veritable roar of a voice that comes over a four-in-the-morning, whiskey-soaked cousin of Antony Hegarty's perfectly complementing the seductive prowl of Stephanie Ward's and rip-roaring tunes such as 'Heaven Never Seemed So Close' at their disposal, these five students from Bath exemplify a steely passion and musical flair far beyond their years. They're playing aplenty from this point on – dates on their myspace.

James Skinner