Thursday 6th March, it’s Mad Hatters and it’s Netsounds Presents and it promises to be quite a gig.
Bite Night – had a quick chat with the guys before hand (a please can I use flash if I really have to chat, they said yes), but I really meant to ask them about the name. I’m surely not alone in expecting an edgy gothic outfit, and they are so not.
Clean cut predominantly indie but every now and then a 70’s or 80’s flashback with the likes of Dire Straits or Thin Lizzy influences sneaking into the set. Last time I saw them it was a pretty fraught environment at the recent battle of the bands, this time round more space and time to appreciate them. They have a very calm persona on stage which suits the set-list, but maybe they could ramp it up a bit. Just a wee bit.
Lionel have evolved. I’m used to seeing a three piece and I have always been impressed by previous performances. Russell Montgomery seems to be established on drums (good) and they have added a keyboard player. Also good as it turns out. They have lost none of the energy and added some sonic depth and of course a new dimension to what is already a strong set.
Add to that some backing vocals from said keyboard player (and he’s not to shoddy on the tambourine either) that really compliment the lead and Lionel are a much more complete proposition. A very full sound, despite the most minimal drumkit I’ve seen – bass, floor-tom and snare – and personally, I’m really looking forward to catching them again; soon I hope.
To the main event and the band that have spawned an outbreak of punning and double entendre’ – and some single entendre – Casual Sex.
Solid concentrated indie rock with a pinch of punk, at last some politics, risque maybe but then I don’t expect Cameron or Osbourne will be buying any Casual Sex merchandise (fnarr fnarr). And what’s with the eye shadow and lipstick? I’m guessing more Lou Reed than Eddi Izzard or maybe I’m trying too hard and its just Sam – either way it seems to be something of a signature, as if he wasn’t intense and watchable pre make-up as it is . . .
He asks the crowd to come closer and they do (despite threatening to kiss them if they’re pretty – cue for a song); he drinks to David Gilmour’s birthday and I can’t figure out if he’s really a fan, but it’s that edgy ambiguity that is such a feature of the performance that sees it drift close to theatre at times and keeps me, and I’d suggest everyone else, utterly engaged.
This is the last night of their current UK tour and then it’s off to the lone star state of Texas – and I suspect there are a few puns to be had there. In fact, just to up the ante I think they would do a wonderful job of covering Cowboys Are My Weakness and really should think about it.
Please. Casual Sex; surely the next big thing (ooer, shutyerface).
More Casual Sex pictures.
