ENTER SHIKARI // America’s Demise, London’s Rise

“I’m often a bit embarrassed to live in London,” says Enter Shikari front man Rou Reynolds.

However, the city can be exempt from such a statement this week. Against all the backlash and racial slurs, Sadiq Khan was sworn in as the first Muslim Mayor of London. It’s that little bit of good news Rou Reynolds needs while he tours America. Yup, while Reynolds rejoices there’s also that sobering reminder he’s in Donald Trump’s backyard. The British hardcore/rock/electronic quartet are currently on their Mindsweep Tour of The States and Canada.

“It’s been really interesting being over here at this time, there really is an energy around politics that isn’t normally there, and I think a fear as well (laughs). There’s this sort of laughter that has kind of turned into nervous laughter now … Most of the people that come to our shows are obviously extremely against everything that Trump stands for.”

Back in the UK and Khan was beaten to a pulp by the media, political opponents, and even ‘celebrities’. Katie Hopkins, a British television personality, vowed that if Khan was elected mayor she’d “run naked down Regent Street with a sausage up my bum in protest”. Oh how that statement has backfired. Your move Hopkins. The very thought would have Reynolds running for a bucket and blindfold.  Against overwhelming odds Khan stands victorious, and Reynolds is starting to see his city, London, in a different light.

“That whole election, Labour were predicted to lose about 200 seats or something and they only ended up losing 40 and have had massive gains obviously in London, in Bristol and in a lot of other big places so it’s really positive. But still, the vast majority of the media is still laying into him with every chance they can get, with every tiny, silly, significant little thing, but when it comes down to actual factual evidence of how well he is doing, it’s quite clear that this has been really good for him. I’m often a bit embarrassed to live in London, there’s a bit of a corrupt cesspool, especially with all its history, but at the same time it’s a beautiful place culturally, it’s so diverse, it really is a global city and I think we now have a chance for politics to reflect that amazing diversity and a progressive city that the people of London are living in.”

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“It’s been really interesting being over [in the US] at this time, there really is an energy around politics that isn’t normally there, and I think a fear as well.”

[ROU]

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It’s no secret that Reynolds speaks his mind in both his music and in person. Over their past four albums Shikari have been giving a big middle finger to capitalism and the corrupt. So do they come across as being preachy? Not according to Reynolds and not like the Christian bands he’s toured with.

“No. I think because we’ve always had this kind of, sense of humour, a sense of irony, you know, the comical, it’s quite important to us. Often when it comes to sort of speaking about big subjects whether it’s in art or whatever people thought of think that they have to be exempt from humour, like you are not allowed to be humorous whilst making a good point, and I think just to not take one’s self so seriously is a really good thing, to keep yourself on a certain level you know, keep yourself humanised, rather than sort of thinking what you’re talking about is the fucking gospel of something … (It’s) a willingness not to take ourselves too seriously and not just be bogged down in everything and I think people respect that. Also we’ve done so many tours in America with Christian hardcore bands and things, where they are just pretty much reciting fucking Luke verse 16 on stage, so we are very conscious about coming across as preachy.”

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Enter Shikari will visit Australia this September on their Redshift Tour with Hacktivist (UK) and local lads Stories.

September 19, 170 Russell, Melbourne VIC 18+

September 20, The Triffid, Newstead QLD 18+

September 21, The Metro Theatre, Sydney NSW 18+

September 22, The Gov, Hindmarsh, SA  All Ages

September 24, Metropolis, Fremantle WA 18+