Tuesday 31/05/11 To Kill A King @ The Social, London

Single launches are an oddity in the gig calendar: usually only staged by new bands for their first single, they tend to be a bit of a friends and family love-in, with the guest list taking up most of the venue’s capacity. As a result, it’s difficult to gauge the level of support a band might be getting out in the real world, and whether the whooping and hollering loyally provided by close friends is likely to be repeated elsewhere.

That the buzz around To Kill A King is probably being heard outside their immediate social group is evidenced by a quick look round The Social’s basement venue, which reveals the faces of several well known industry tastemakers dotted in amongst the crowd.

They also have the backing of the Communion label, an imprint headed by a member of Mumford & Sons which is fast gaining a reputation for picking up the most exciting new folk music around. They are already responsible for whisking Matthew & The Atlas off to crack America as an opener on the Mumford & Sons US tour, and To Kill A King, a slightly upbeat version of the same sound, look well capable of following them.

After an opener which shows why this band easily topped tonight’s bill (also featuring Bastille and Robbie Redway), we get ‘Bloody Shirt’, a monster of a tune which must have taken ‘Fictional State’ (the single being launched tonight) all the way to the wire in the first single selection process.

The short set shows a penchant for mixing gentle poignancy with rousing, boot-heels-to-the-floor choruses, a trick well used by Mumford & Sons themselves. Highlights include ‘Rays’ before the compulsory positioning of ‘Fictional State’ at the end of the set, a charming folk song which features an outro change that will make you want to suddenly jump around the room with joy. Snugly fitting into the Communion family, To Kill A King show every sign of rewarding the faith their label bosses – not to mention their friends and family - have put in them.