Yup, it was next up… after their
splendid acoustic Rough Trade set, last time out, I booked to see returning
stylish post-Britpop glam-dram purveyors Rialto at their headlining London
show. I mean, I didn’t need too much persuasion anyway; if another dose of
their widescreen 60’s inflected kitchen sink drama soundtrack music (amply
displayed on their very listenable new “reunion” album “Neon And Ghost Signs”)
wasn’t enough, then there was also the identity of their support… only Fierce
Panda label-mates Desperate Journalist, who as we know are pretty much as good
as it gets right now for UK bands, their insouciant goth-Smiths vibe
particularly soaring in the “live” environment. A slightly odd couple, this,
labelmates rather than soundalikes, but both are well within my wheelhouse, so
a midweek shlep up the Smoke it is!
I hit the road at 4 straight from the office for a good run, parking up in Osterley and tubing over to Kings Cross for 6.30. Doors at 7, so I joined a modest queue, then grabbed a not-to-be-relinquished barrier spot house right, chatting to some fellow front row punters to take us up to Desperate Journalist’s emergence, prompt at 7.30 for this early one. Kicking off with the dramatic Simple Minds “Sons”-esque bass-led slow burn build into the plangent chorus of “Everything You Wanted”, then juxtaposing that with the dismissive snark of the bouncy “Why Are You So Boring?”, it was clear from the off that this was a band in a hurry tonight, keen to take this one-off opportunity and slam-dunk it big time. All elements in perfect synchronicity as ever, but props to the solid driving bass of Simon Drowner, the foundation upon which the Desperate Journalist sound is built, as well as the strident vocal performance (rising above an initially slightly echoey vocal mix by mid-set) and scary kinetic conviction of wild-eyed vocalist Jo Bevan. She means it, maaaan…
A brilliantly chosen 10 song DJ vignette showcased all aspects of their dark, goth-tinged post-punk canon, from the “Passion Of Lovers” proto-goth backbeat of “Afraid”, through a slightly understated but still widescreen “Cedars” (which also featured a stellar mid-8 guitar break from Rob), to the beetle-stomping hurtle and circular mid-8 hook of oldie “Cristina”, my highlight tonight. We even got a greeting from the Ice Queen herself, with, “everyone having a good Wednesday?” although this was quickly qualified with, “that’s the extent of my banter…!” A brooding, sweeping “Be Kind”, which featured the usual mid-song pregnant pause, catching most folk out tonight, was followed with set closer “Satellite”, slightly understated and slower paced yet still its’ usual soaring self, to round off a dynamically delivered 45 minutes. Bloody lovely!
Follow that Rialto! Grabbed a breath after bouncing along to DJ’s set, before a pit photographer asked to take a pic of my Comsat Angels t-shirt; turned out he was best mates with erstwhile CA bassist Kevin Bacon! Then a quick loo break (loads of steps in this place, so this was like climbing the Matterhorn, or taking a piss in Wetherspoons!) nonetheless got me back in place for the full 5-piece band’s onstage arrival, just after their scheduled 8.45. Easing in with glitter-stomp newie “I Want You” and Boo-slightlydelic oldie “Hard Candy”, it was evident that they weren’t out to match their support for sheer dynamism, instead relying on the louche 60’s atmospherics of the material, and their moody yet melodic delivery. An early “Untouchable” was case-in-point; preceded by vocalist Louis wrestling with a water bottle cap then telling a story of seeing The Fall’s Mark Smith do the same one time at Glasto, albeit less successfully (the contents ending up down MES’ leg!), this was shorn of the lush orchestration of the recorded version but still managed to feel soaring and stately, with Louis giving it full beans on the vocal outro. “When We’re Together” was an eerie late night torch song and early highlight, Louis delivering the hook off-mic, before they tried a second album oldie, “London Crawling” coming across all slow burn Ziggy-era Bowie. Backing vocalist Liz joined the band for the Pulp-esque funky stomp drama of “No-one Leaves This Discotheque Alive”; then my set highlight, oldie “Broken Barbie Doll” was euphoric and desolate in equal measure, delivered with insouciant understatement.
“I’ve always wanted to play this venue!”
gushed Louis, also informing us of his mum’s attendance tonight (!), before the
most Rialto-sounding of the new numbers, the sweeping 60’s “Put You On Hold”.
Eschewing the encore ritual, Louis teasingly asked, “is there another one you
want to hear?”, a tremendous “Monday Morning 5.19” sending everyone home early
and happy. A quick chat with Fierce Panda boss Simon Williams, then I was off
and running, nearly jumping on the wrong tube but turning myself around, home for
just before 1. A great night out, then, well worth the midweek shlep; I think
the overt oomph of DJ shaded it for me over Rialto’s more considered languid
style, but nonetheless 2 contrasting yet equally worthy sets!
No comments:
Post a Comment