Toe at Troxy, London 11.04.2026

Troxy has a certain gravitas to it that lends itself beautifully to expansive instrumental or experimental music. I first visited it years ago to see Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and I was sat in one of the rather unusual booths, facing a couple of people that started off as strangers and became new friends as the night went on. Hidden in between the growing sea of glass tower blocks that are popping up in East London, this stunning Art Deco venue had a similar vibe on Saturday, when enthusiasts of odd time signatures came out in force to witness Japanese post/math-rock legends toe, on only their third UK visit in their entire, seminal 25th years strong career.

Pennines

Opening the night were Norwich’s Pennines, the emo- math rockers who formed in 2006 and, as stated by their own website, “haven’t recorded new music together since 2009” (for lovers of early 200s nostalgia, they talk about their full history in this piece). In the room it certainly felt like they were welcomed back with a warm embrace – even though they haven’t disappeared from the scene at all (some projects their members have popped up in include Henry Tremain’s TTNG, who made frequent appearances at ArcTanGent).

Referring to toe’s rare UK visits, Hank reminisced about going to see them at toe’s first London gig at a sold out XOYO back in 2013, and unsurprisingly when he asked the audience if anyone else was at that gig, there were quite a few enthusiastic whoops from the gradually filling up venue. He also mentioned that this was the first time Pennines played London in over a decade, and the amount of “WE LOVE YOUs” I heard from the crowd suggests they were not forgotten despite their long hiatus, and the news that they were making new music was received very enthusiastically. “Chill out, we only have like, 6 songs” – he quipped. He also added “fucking hell, it’s fun to play music again” and that sense of joy was permeating their music – in my personal classification I call it a sunshiny math rock – the kind that makes you feel warm and fuzzy and you let the time signatures hit you like the first rays of sunshine after a rainy day.

Pennines closed off their set full of gratitude – for the audience for turning up early, for toe and Tangled Hair, and for fans who travelled from afar to see them – “a 15 year old dude travelled from Oklahoma to see us tonight – this is for that dude!”

Pennines – Troxy – Magda Campagne

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Tangled Hair

Second to take to the stage were toe’s own label (Machu Picchu Industrias) mates Tangled Hair. The south London trio (who are likely my neighbours) – already cult favourites amongst the aforementioned ArcTanGent crowd – announced that they “stupidly wrote a record and every song is like, 9 minutes long and we’re all 40+ so bear with us”. They showed up with unabashed authenticity and proceeded to unleash a heavier math rock onto us, the kind where you start to head bang while you count the time signatures – and the front rows were doing just that. They fit in the math rock niche that is heavier and more technical, but with added catchy melodies and emotive lyrics. Delta Sleep and TTNG comparisons come to mind.

Expressing their gratitude for the legacy of both the band that played before them as well as toe’s (with their drummer dutifully wearing toe’s t-shirt), they said they “wouldn’t be the band they are today if it wasn’t for Pennines and if it wasn’t for toe” and there was perfect synergy between all three bands on the line up. When they closed their set with ‘Yeah, It Does Look Like A Spider’ from their acclaimed 2018 album We Do What We Can, Troxy went absolutely wild and we were all well and truly warmed up for toe.

Tangled Hair – Troxy – Magda Campagne

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toe

toe are one of those elusive bands that quietly influenced a whole genre – I mentioned that their current tour was only their third visit to the UK, and the first actual tour, and I was incredibly lucky to have been there for the previous one (ArcTanGent exclusive performance in 2016). I was about to write how it’s difficult to make technical music emotive, and then I caught myself thinking about some of the other bands that I have followed for years, who also make really technical music that carries so much feeling – like the aforementioned Godspeed You! Black Emperor or And So I Watch You From Afar – and realised that perhaps the technicality of it all is where the emotion sits. It’s like when you are bursting with feelings that you cannot find words for – but you happen to be an exceptionally talented musician – so all those complex feelings and emotions pour out of you not in the form of words, but intricate chords, and your racing thoughts take the shape of ever changing time signatures.

toe formed in Tokyo in 2000 and never changed their original line up. Yamazaki Hirokazu (guitar) and Yamane Satoshi (bass guitar) used to be in a screamo band together before forming toe, and I find it fascinating how well those influences play on toe’s post- and math-rock sound. Speaking of influences, toe’s significance was felt across the room as the venue was filled not only with fans, but also with fellow musicians – I bumped into members of Codices and Fly, Fly Triceratops and I am certain there were many more band members from the ArcTanGent / Portals community dotted around the room. However what struck me even more than seeing familiar faces, was how wide of a reach they have as a band. There were people there of all ages, genders, walks of life and musical persuasions.

toe’s musicianship is unrivalled. They created a small semi-circle in the middle of Troxy’s large stage, turning the 3,600-cap venue into a more intimate affair, with all musicians huddled together, feeding off one another’s energy. Yamazaki Hirokazu’s acoustic guitar and Mino Takaaki’s electric guitar danced together exquisitely, with their riffs interlocking in a way that they only can when you’ve played with someone for quarter of the century and can read them like a book. Kashikura Takashi’s precise drumming gave a heartbeat to each song, and was often punctuated by impressive, soaring solos. Yamane Satoshi’s bass glued it all together.

This being the band’s 25th anniversary, their set allowed for newer material from their 2024 record NOW I SEE THE LIGHT to be woven in between songs from their seminal records – and even included a few deep cuts before heading into a more heavy, distorted territory on it’s final act. It will undoubtedly become a night to remember.