Tag Archives: band

THOROUGHLY MODERN MAN: The Men, Scala

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While Mr. John Lydon didn’t feel the need this time round to harass the Queen as she messed about on the Thames, something of his punk husbandry was alive and screaming in north-east London last week. Lovers of noise were afforded three opportunities over the Jubilee weekend to witness something as ear-splittingly galvanizing as that set in motion by the musical sea change of thirty five years ago. The purveyors of this racket seemed unsure how to pronounce ‘Jubilee’ in their intro…  perhaps this was because they are Americans, the Brooklyn based post-punk quartet that is The Men.

Their first sonic assault was at Saturday’s Field Day in Victoria Park, Hackney. Despite their daylight outing, a friend commented to me positively by email that they produced “a deafening chaotic sludge. You won’t be disappointed.” On Sunday after all the messing around in boats and rain was over, The Men could be heard to take the Shacklewell Arms (Hackney again) apart with their second aural battery of the weekend. This was the warm-up to Wednesday’s gig supporting Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo. They tore through a thirty-minute set with the brutality of a rushed lobotomy. They smashed and pummeled a grateful moshing crowd with a relentless pounding cacophony. I was not disappointed.

Wednesday’s third maelstrom at the Scala was no less restrained with The Men delivering a flawless showcase of their noise manifesto. The forty-five minute set opened with ‘I saw her face’, a billowing thunderstorm reminiscent of a stomping Neil Young.  New material was aired but it was in the standards from their last two albums, such as ‘Turn it around’ and ‘Open up your Heart’ played back to back in a deafening blitzkrieg, that they showed their strengths. Despite the apparent mindlessness of the bombardment of drums, bass and wailing guitars, they reference a plethora of sub-genres in their headlong rush to oblivion.  Buried deep in the core of their sound is a sensibility that inherently understands and connects with the lyricism of rock and pop way further back than Mr. Butter Ad’s dabblings. These guys, sorry Men, go beyond easy classification – simply put, this was probably the gig of the year…and you missed it.

Written by a Thoroughly Modern Man, Hugh Hamshaw-Thomas.

Rufus Wainwright, Lyceum Theatre

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My family have managed to agree on one thing: a mutual adoration of Rufus Wainwright, the supremely talented Canadian singer-songwriter.

His single concert date at the grand Lyceum Theatre in London was packed out, all his most ardent fans were there including some notable celebrities: I spotted Jonathan Ross on the way out but many more have mentioned attending. We booked our tickets months and months in advance, paid a fortune and still found ourselves seated in the dizzying highest section which in a theatre as big as the Lyceum felt sky high. Teddy Thompson came on first as the support act. A lone minstrel with guitar on the stage, his music felt rather isolated and poignant in the great auditorium. His voice is rich and soulful and some of his songs are very touching, particularly the composition written for his mother.

Then on came Rufus, blasting light and energy onto the stage. Singing numbers from across his repertoire but particularly plugging his new album, ‘Out Of The Game’, he sounded better than ever. On stage he is an extraordinarily intense presence, and yet wiggles about doing his unique dance moves. In his welcome speech he admitted “I’m wearing the world’s cheapest sunglasses and the world’s most expensive shoes,” these came in the form of neon orange slippers and mysterious but silly glasses. In his music he is deep and meaningful and yet in person, on stage he has a frivolous comical attitude.

His music, as ever, showed variety, vision and creativity and he sang superbly throughout. But although I enjoyed his newer, more psychedelic poppy songs, it is the old classics that most satisfy my appetite. ‘The Art Teacher’ and ‘Poses’ were particularly stunning and very memorable.

Everyone got a chance to play and shine from the band and at times the concert seemed a bit like an open mic night, albeit a very good one. His beloved and equally talented sister even made an appearance to give a heart-wrenching performance, her voice is hugely affecting and quite beautiful.

It was an unforgettable night with one of the world’s greatest musicians.

Visit Rufus’ website here for more information.

THOROUGHLY MODERN MAN: The Supreme Fabulettes, Madame JoJos Nightclub

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Meet Miss Vicki Vivacious, Miss Mary Mac and Miss Vanilla Lush.  These three fierce divas make up the latest entertainment act to smash the London scene, the Supreme Fabulettes.  I was lucky enough to be able to attend one of their series of launch performances across London, this particular one being staged in the heart of Soho, in Madame JoJos nightclub.  I was promised a night of revolutionary cabaret, and it did not disappoint.  Luckily I had a cabaret-savvy guest (www.ameliasings.com) on hand to help as well!

The night started as all great launch parties should, with a glass of champagne and canapés (delicious chicken and vegetable skewers).  This put the audience in the right mood to whoop and clap their way through what proved to be a groundbreaking performance.  I could scarcely believe it when the three ladies stormed the stage dressed in outfits that revved up the glitz and glamour and belting out the classic ‘Ain’t No Mountain’.  The unexpected twist was that these were in fact men dressed as women – the unprecedented fusion across cabaret and drag acting that followed made for a thrilling performance and a great night all round.  The singing was incredibly powerful and the harmonies were right on the money.  Some of the more spine-tingling numbers for me were Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black, and mash-ups of The Supremes’ Stop in the Name of Love with Girls Aloud’s The Promise and Adele’s Rolling in the Deep combined with Tina Turner’s Proud Mary.  Their stagecraft and hilarious interludes and skits are also to be commended; showing that they are an act of longevity who will reach out to their audience beyond merely singing.

Top marks to the team working behind the scenes on this innovative new creation.  The musical and vocal arrangements by John Themis and Terry Ronald respectively, were completely genius, drawing gasps and sing-a-longs from the audience throughout.  Stevie Stewart’s costume design twinned with Eleanor Robyn Thomson’s wig styling is a highlight of the entire production and kudos to the singers also for some lightning quick changes!

Bravo all round to those involved in getting this project to press.  It was an exhilarating evening that left the crowd buzzing.  Keep an eye out for the wonderful Supreme Fabulettes!

More information here: www.supremefabulettes.com

Written by a Thoroughly Modern Man, Mark McCloskey.