Grizzly Bear in London: The New Michael Jackson?

"We haven't been here in so long, and we never thought London would like us" said Grizzly Bear bassist Chris Taylor during their first show in the capital since 2007. They're modest types, these four bears -- the grungy opulence of Camden's three-tier Koko theatre was brimful of expectant fans, some old and many new. Venue staff even bragged on a recent publicity email that the gig "sold out like Michael Jackson tickets".

Save for an appearance at ATP: The Fans Strike Back festival in Minehead, Somerset back in May, GB have been notably absent on these shores since the dropping of 'Veckatimest', a record about which "album of the year" plaudits have been snowballing in recent months -- we've had to make do with their awesome Interface set in the meantime.

"We've been playing so many festivals, it's good to get back inside four walls," said co-singer/songwriter Ed Droste mid-way through the set, also breaking briefly to admire the beauty of Camden Koko's coruscant glitter-ball. The shabby glamour lent itself to the atmospherics of Grizzly Bear's spacious multi-layered instrumentals and glorious four-part harmonies.

While the piano-led jig of 'Two Weeks' and the Spectoresque 'Cheerleader' got the most appreciative roars of the night, some of the crowd seemed restless by the more loosely abstract numbers, such as 'Little Brother' and 'Colorado' from 2006's 'Yellow House' LP.By the time the show reached its climax, when the sublime groove of 'While You Wait for The Others' segued straight into the rolling chorus of Yellow House's 'On a Neck, On a Spit', the entire audience seemed enthralled. An eerie one-song encore followed: their menacingly lovely cover of the Crystals 'He Hit Me' from the 'Friend' EP. New converts slipped off quietly into the night.

The band's next stop in London is another step up -- the magnificent Barbican Hall on Hallowe'en, backed by the London Symphony Orchestra and with strings arranged by ''Veckatimest' collaborator Nico Muhly. This show too sold out in an instant and tickets are like gold dust. Perhaps with this much London love for Grizzly Bear they should take inspiration from MJ himself and start planning a 50-night stand of their own.