The Constellations are a seven-piece band from Atlanta, comprised of five musicians and two attractive female back-up singers. Lead by alluring ringmaster Elijah Jones, the band’s musical style is a hybrid of soul, hip-hop, funk-rock and 60’s psychedelia. Each track is performed in such an energetic and unique way, it’s impossible not be sucked into it all.

An ecstatic (and predominantly young) crowd witnessed just how energetic the band is during the recent NME-night at Koko. Sporting a beanie that half covered his face, Elijah bounced into action with the first number of the evening, ‘Setback’.
Starting with a psychedelic “tune-in drop-out” synth and organ sound, the track quickly gives way to hip-hop rhythms (think Beastie Boys on acid). The perfect song to go wild and Elijah did just that – banging away on a pair of bongos and churning out the lyrics with a nasal drawl a la Dylan or Waits, while jumping about like bitten by a tarantula. The female backing duo had equally fun with rattles, tambourines and syllables rather than whole lyrics.

Next came the harmonious ‘Perfect Day’ with its intro slightly reminiscent of Bowie’s ‘Jean Genie’. It had everyone clapping and dancing while the whole band run riot on stage. At times it felt as if they had themselves a party and the gig was merely an added bonus. Especially guitarist Ryan Davis (a young version of Chili Pepper’s Anthony Kiedis, with tattoos to kill for) delivered his play in a deliberate sexy manner and it did not go unnoticed by the females in the audience.

The band performed several more tracks but it was the final number, ‘Step Right Up’, that proved to be the absolute highlight. A curious mix of ‘talk-singing’ in the vein of Jim Morrison and interspersed with ultra-catchy funk-rock beats, it was the best example of how brilliant a live band The Constellations are. Their shows are gaining legendary status in their native Atlanta, but it won’t be before long and Constellations-fever will have infected UK-audiences, too.