This Way To The Egress

There's a lot going on in This Way To The Egress’ music, including an accordion, fiddle, glockenspiel, and a three-piece horn section, alongside the usual guitar and drums. Though, this is just a little part of what makes them pure Entertainment, capital E. Their Cabaret-esque shows are ebullient, vibrant and the most fun you will have in a while. Their sound is a kaleidoscopic patchwork of groggy horns, clarion violins, upbeat piano patterns and storytelling vocals, their extravagant stage personas are very similar to what the love child of a circus lion tamer and a Burlesque dancer would look like.

Hailing from Bethlehem, PA, the six-person troupe brought their rambunctious, three-ring circus live show to The Magic Garden in London on the 13th of August as the last date of their first ever UK tour, and it surely lived up to the expectations.

The venue, situated in the heart of Battersea, looked like a modern-day Narnia and was unquestionably the ideal location for the night, with its fairy-lights lit garden, patchwork sofas and gipsy vibes. It was a magically ragtag and multi-coloured place, easily comparable to the band’s influences, which range from Punk, Brass and Cabaret to Klezmer, Eastern European melodies, Swing, sports team chants and old times Rock’n’Roll.

This Way To The Egress’ incendiary setlist included a mix of their older and fresher tunes, taken from their upcoming release “Onward! Up A Frightening Creek” Which is set to see the light on September 22nd . The band rolled on stage to the sound of Pocket Full Of Posies, taken from their 2011 album We All Fall Down. A triumphant, swaggering anthem, which sounded much more like a marching band making its way through the venue.

Voodoo kickstarted a series of songs from their upcoming release. The sound of this one was the one of a circus fanfare, bewitching and gripping, coronated with roaring rambunctious vocals reminding of vintage circus announcements. Next was Whiskey On My Grave, a vaporous tribute to eastern European melodies embellished by lead female vocalist Sarah Shown’s smooth voice.

Mark Of The Beast was a mesmerizing, hypnotising tune, its high pitched and alluring melody reminding very much of a snake charmer’s flute, followed by the band’s latest single See No Evil: an exuberant and joyful tune, its playful brass section sound tracking lead singer’s Taylor Galassi’s storytelling on the quirks in life.

The six-piece also played a couple of covers, including classic soundtrack Pink Elephants and Harry Belafonte’s Jump In The Line, which many will remember from the cult 1988’s Tim Burton film Beetlejuice.

This Way To The Egress are an unexpected, entertaining and overall brilliant band. Their live show is more than just music, it becomes a mesmerizing experience, teleporting the audience to a different era with their vintage-style melodies and circus-like vibes. Make sure to catch them next time they’re in the UK, you’ll thank me later.

This Way To The Egress are Taylor Galassi (lead vocals, accordion, piano), Sarah Shown (vocals, piano, violin), John Wentz (tuba, bv’s), Joe Lynch (trombone, bv’s); Jaclyn Kidd (guitar, banjo) and Nick Pecca (drums and percussion).

“Onward! Up A Frightening Creek” is out on September 22nd .