Live Review

Antony Szmierek does a well-deserved victory lap at The 100 Club for Dork 100

It's Saturday night and Antony Szmierek is in town. There's buzz on Oxford Street predicting the scale of the night ahead, and beaming tales emerge from every person descending the hallowed steps of The 100 Club.

Words:Jamie Muir

Photos:Patrick Gunning

When it comes to artists seizing their moment, Antony Szmierek stands out as a breakout name embracing celebration and emotion in equal measure. With Glastonbury triumphs and a live show impossible not to fall for, as a closing celebration for five nights at The 100 Club for Dork 100, there's nobody better suited. What follows is a euphoric night destined for this venue's history books. It simply had to be.

There might not be a better party starter than Adult DVD. They could fill The 100 Club on their own, but tonight for Dork 100 they add extra magic with their whipping club-grit that has the packed room hooked. 'Yacht Money' kicks off a set bubbling with sweat-covered dancefloors, while the hooks of 'Dogs In The Sun' and 'Because I Like It' signal a band who know how to command attention. They do that and more, delivering a whirling mix of indietronic punk made to grab you by the scruff. With a sound filling every corner, the crashing 'Do Something' and 'Bill Murray' lay the tone not just for the night but for the future. Adult DVD are that good, and they're coming to turn your doorstep into a party soon. You best be home.

From the moment Antony Szmierek takes the stage, the results are clear. A commander of every second, he stands as one of the finest entertainers in new music - someone who could ignite parties and hold thousands spellbound at the most mournful occasions by finding joy in every emotion. 'The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Fallacy' sends arms skyward as everyone falls into a Saturday night party that serves as the perfect closing ceremony for Dork 100. "We never thought we would get to play here," grins Antony, who then makes it his second home with a set spanning his career. Every person in The 100 Club plays their part: a scorching version of 'The Great Pyramid Of Stockport' echoes back at full volume as Antony bounds across the stage like a conductor orchestrating the best night of your life. "That's never been so loud," he cracks, mixing stunned awe with buzzing energy at his meteoric rise this year.

The show never releases its grip. From the slow build of 'Big Light' to the playful winks of 'Yoga Teacher' and the crunching turns of 'Crashing Out', everything feels raw, real and roaring with both club-soaked sound and emotional depth. "Can I have a hug?" shouts one fan between tracks. "Of course you can, come here!" replies Antony, sharing an embrace on stage. During 'Angie's Wedding' he dives into the crowd, surveying his handiwork while perched on someone's shoulders before meeting a fellow crowd-surfer and sharing an embrace. Tonight feels like witnessing an artist's name being written in lights.

The electric 'Take Me There' and 'Rafters' lift the roof even higher, as Antony laughs and pulls the room in every direction. With fun in his DNA yet delivering an emotional knockout, he closes with the achingly beautiful 'Restless Leg Syndrome', a jubilant cover of New Order's 'True Faith' and his trademark New Year's countdown as 'The Words To Auld Lang Syne' lights up the night like fireworks. The crowd cheers endlessly while Antony stands on stage, taking in the magic. "This has been the maddest year of my life, and it's because of everyone here tonight. Thank you so much." With that, Bon Jovi hits. Antony Szmierek at The 100 Club is the kind of show that will soon be immortalised on these historic walls.

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