Psicle: 6 or 7 and counting

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

6 or 7 and counting

Maya has cried off with unfinished essay deadline. Lily-Rose is in the middle of exams. Debbie has a hard week. Everyone else is busy. My 3 Twickets offers didn't conclude so this is a damn expensive night out for 1. And the 2nd time in 2 nights I'm at a gig on my own. This time at Brixton Electric (nee Fridge) where I've managed to cycle between tropical downpours albeit having a wet stripe up my arse as no mudguard. Rookie mistake. Anyways it's dark in here and I doubt many are looking at my middle aged arse. After the usual heavy frisk and asking if I have any chewing gum I get inside to find it comfortably interspersed with folk my age as I was slightly concerned I would be an ageing rocker in a sea of teenie Kate Nash fans and be frowned upon as slightly if not wholly dodgy. The bar refreshingly doesn't even try to sell watered down lager and has Red Stripe in tins. That's a proper bar. And quick service.

I've missed the first band but Revenge Wife takes the stage. It's one woman who seems proud to be from LA and who dances and sings to euro disco backing tracks including some fairly strong language songs including one from her other band which the record company didn't like as a single presumably as it's all about how she likes, and how she has, sex with her bloke including it seems other people and I'm sure she mentions dogging too. A weird set and one that you wouldn't be surprised to be surprised by at the Windmill just up the road. There are also about 4 women each stage left and right who are swaying in time like you see on old clips of bands on TV shows in the 60s. Very odd. Especially when they are introduced as "my dancers". They do come on stage to dance for the final number although it's hardly choreographed and really just jigging around. I could have done as much although I would possibly have looked out of place in amongst the beautifulness of youth. Anyway Revenge is entertaining, loves Kate Nash, love performing for the 1st time in London and generally loves everything in a west coast sort of way which you never know is genuine or bull.

After quite a while of me phone fiddling to avoid just staring at the punters the stage darkens and the band of Kate Nash and then Kate herself take the stage. She starts with Foundations which gets everyone on their phones which is slightly annoying but I quash the desire to take Simon's recent action. There's too many of them anyway. It's a brilliant set, as usual, with a mix of south London indie, near-ballads and then some of her straight up punk rock and roll with a good topping of out and out guitar soloing which our guitarist don't hold back on going the full guitar hero posturing including playing behind her head. Fantastic. Solid bassist and drummer hold the whole lot together. It's a great sound and mix of tunes and Kate delivers with great sincerity and pleased to be "back home" and gigging after lockdown which took it's toll on her mental wellbeing. Her cabaret kitsch adds that aura of uniqueness which no one else matches and the crowd are loving it. I decline the mosh due to not wanting to be the only over 30 in it and me knees are still recovering from last night. I've shed tears whilst watching Kate (see the ghost of glasto past) and whilst none tonight she does move you. The encore is climatic in a classic rock and roll finale kind of way including Kate bashing away at the piano with hands, feet, arse and in fact her whole body. It's great. There are quite a few leaving and I think it shows how far many have come needing to get trains home. At the end we are all thanked sincerely and then I think it's Ms Wife and her dancers come on stage to jig about to the "that's yer lot" song being played with Kate and the band. Lovely to see them all enjoying themselves. They need to get out more. Which I don't have 2 gigs in 2 days, or 3 gigs in 5 days. I need a rest before the Saturday all dayer at Brockwell Park. As the crowd kept shouting. We love you Kate!