Tapir! delivered a show for the ages at King’s Place, combining Pilgrims, Gods and Mountains into a theatrical production which rather upstaged the expectations of this quiet and modest band.

Tapir! have brewed a certain level of excitement since releasing Act I, a beautifully charming EP combining Nick Drake-esque guitar play with quaint lyrics about tales of pilgrims and grassy knolls. Singer Ike Gray’s poetry feels like Chaucer plucking inspiration from the Overworld, and the band’s sound is distinct from other indie-folk artists for offering such a captivating narrative engagement. Over the past two years, Tapir! have released three ‘Act’ EPs which slot together to tell a complete story in their debut album: The Pilgrim, Their God and The King Of My Decrepit Mountain.

Such a well-thought-out discography is no small feat, and they have further turned heads in their aesthetic, being frequently dressed in brightly coloured paper mâché helmets which resemble odd and otherworldly creatures referred to in the album. Tapir! are clearly a through-and-through narrative band, so it should have been no surprise that their show at King’s Place (the finale of their UK album tour) was a grand theatrical production, not merely a gig but a show chartered by dozens of actors, costumes, and settings – but somehow, I was surprised. When I last saw Tapir! play in Bristol, their set was a standard show, and my understanding of the tour so far was that it had taken place in regular grassroots venues across the country where such productions would be impossible. Of course, King’s Place is the perfect setup for something special, for a theatrical performance which was ‘two years in the making’ according to Ike Gray marking the climactic finale of their tour.

We creaked and shuffled into seated rows as the show began. A flash of lights syncopating with the bombastic introduction of Act 1 (The Pilgrim) marked the beginning of the show, and we were met with a beautiful symphony from a barely discernible band, who remained obscured by lights at the back of the stage. In our focus instead was the Pilgrim, a character dressed in loincloth and armed with a giant sword of foam. The Pilgrim dramatically swooned and danced across the stage as the band played chronologically through their album, introducing various characters along the way. Lasting just over an hour, the show felt too short, so richly meaningful and well-orchestrated was every piece.

One could spot the put-togetherness of the production – the DIY outfits, the paper-mache ‘Nether’, and the oddly-sized ‘Cave’ – but this quaint and quirky style is what defines Tapir!. These odd and humorous characteristics emanated tenderness and only made us more invested in the narrative, like the effect of a Monty Python film, such as The Holy Grail with its absurd but nonetheless adorable invisible horses and shameless divinities. Each act underscored a new step of the Pilgrim’s journey, as they slew monsters, travelled across lands, and collapsed before resurrecting in a grand ascension to the skies. Soundtracking this story, the band played beautifully and modified elements of their music to suit the performances, such as the glorious horns of Gymnopédie moulding with the vocals of a saint-like character, and a choir of twenty-odd singers bolstering the already incredible climax of Mountain Song.

What was perhaps most telling about the show, and about Tapir specifically, was the decision to end the theatrics early, to brighten the lights and speak normally to the audience as they played the final two songs of their show. Most artists may have chosen to end such a performance without breaking character, leaving an air of mystery behind them, but Tapir put aside this grand narrative to end on a humble and more human note. It was genuinely heartwarming to see the entire crew flock to the stage for our closing round of applause, as we watched a group of friends relish a moment which had clearly taken so much time and hard work. For this, I felt ever grateful to Tapir! for inviting us upon their pilgrimage, and for letting us share in their wonderful vision.