This must be a record, nearly a month to post a gig review. I have my reasons for the ‘slight delay’ and I will post this and be damned, given that the raison d’etre for this blog was always supposed to be as my own gig diary and compendium. Anyone who wants to glance over my shoulder remains very welcome.
There were multiple attractions for going to this gig. I’d missed out on Marina And The Diamonds in those early days, it seemed like we were never destined to be in the same time and space. And there was FOE, who I was more than keen to see play to a BIG audience. I guess it’s a mark of my priorities that I’ve decided to put FOE up there as the headline photo for the piece.
BTW, no photopass for this, so piccies from the trusty G10, which has proved to be an amazing compact camera, but of course still limited.
So, with a month to reflect, it’s fair to say that FOE – Hannah and her boys – I won’t say they blew Marina off the stage, because they are very different animals. But they emerged well worthy as equal stars of the night, right up there. I was excellent to see them play with such conviction to that big audience, Kaz with a jewel pasted onto his forehead, the four of them dominating that stage. Their sounds, always big , suited the space, crashing out into the audience.
We had a new song, ‘My Baby’, considerably more rocky in feel, and I tend to think a portent of the new album which is apparently well on the way to being written at least. I caught up with Hannah. She popped out to watch Marina’s last few songs and coincidentally stood right in front of me in the darkness. It was great to say hi for a few moments. FOE’s Bad Dream Hotline album was released in January, and so far as I am concerned is right up there in my top couple for the year. I’m not alone in this either, way, way after we were onto them and interviewed Hannah, they now seem to be the darlings of Drowned In Sound. It’s nice when the predicting stick works.
And so on to Marina. There’d been some debate amongst my ‘indie-rati’ friends about her direction, her increasing poppiness. That last video sure was camper than Butlins, but still we were keen to enjoy the full breadth of her talents. Having been up as close to the barrier as possible for FOE, we’d now retreated back out of the way of the 15 year old girls that made up the front few rows. Thing was, instead we now found ourselves amongst what I can only describe as a provincial housewives’ hen night that has suddenly and inexplicably found itself in Soho and decided that sod it, they might as well have a bloody good time in G.A.Y. while they’re there.
Marina appeared on stage in a skirt and crop top that were curiously unflattering and badly fitting. In her case, given her unashamed diva tendencies, I’m totally comfortable to make comment on her mode of dress. Oh yes, and a wedding veil too. No doubt that’s what got me going with the hen night allusions. The music? It wasn’t vapid, but it was totally showbiz, the image only enhanced when she stopped singing to chat, and the lead vocal just kept coming. I’m not some anal purist about backing tracks, but this was definitely a lead vocal, and whether ‘valid’ or not, and who are we to say, all I can report is that it was disconcerting. Now there’s a good word for the occasion. Disconcerting, as in threw us off our stride. I enjoyed it, I can’t deny that, the tracks that stick in the mind being ‘Hollywood’ and ‘Robot’. Hmmm, no doubt her star will continue to ascend. As can be seen, the showbiz theatricals continued through the set. Buns anyone? With burgers or without.
More of Mike Hughes’s awesome photos may be viewed at his Catshoe.org website here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt5wUiPoXPU
