Rock and Pop: CAMDEN CRAWL 2010 - Reviews - Calvin Harris, Sugababes, Billy Childish, Slow Club, New Young Pony Club
Published: 6 May 2010
by ELLA DAWSON and ALLAN STAFFORD
CALVIN HARRIS - ROUNDHOUSE (Sat)
The charming Scot cheered up a rain-drenched audience with a strong, hour-long set of crowd-pleasers. Clearly in his element, Harris delivered his brand of pleasingly uncomplicated electropop, with guest vocals from long-time collaborator Ayah Marar. Hits like 'Born in the 80s', 'Flashback' and 'Girls' fired up the crowd and his assertion that he likes "Camden Crawl girls" went down rather well. They clearlylike him too. (ED)
SUGABABES - ROUNDHOUSE (Sat)
Pop superstars Sugababes - in one sense the most eye-catching name at an alternative music festival - offered a glimpse of sunshine in the Saturday rain.
Smash hits like About You Now and Push The Button, and a cover of Florence's Rabbit Heart, helped cheer up a crowd who were relieved to be in the dry.
Their set was cut short because of earlier delays, although if recent song Get Sexy - with its bizarre Right Said Fred referencing – was anything to go by, that may have been a mercy. (AS)
BILLY CHILDISH - BLUES KITCHEN (Sat)
Unlike the bright young things hoping to make a mark, Billy Childish has very little left to prove. But the veteran punk-blues artist made a real impression with his ferociously controlled display of aggression at the Blues Kitchen. Tearing through covers of Hendrix and The Who as well as his own songs, his stage-energy sparked appreciative moshing. Childish - the man with the world's best moustache - and his band ended with a literal salute to their audience. (AS)
SLOW CLUB - JAZZ CAFE (Sat)
Boy/girl duo Slow Club sometimes get painted as a sort of folksy northern White Stripes, because he plays guitar and she, you know, plays the drums. It's a silly comparison. For one thing Rebecca Taylor can actually sing, and another, she can actually play the drums, as she showed with aplomb at the Jazz Cafe.
Their onstage chemistry and spark brought the best out of their thoughtful songs. They also responded well to the annoying level of crowd chatter - why do people queue in the rain and then just talk? - by turning up the volume. (AS)
NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB - ELECTRIC BALLROOM
It can't be an easy trick following up on being the new young indie darlings of four years ago, but New Young Pony Club pulled it off at a packed Electric Ballroom.
Without losing its energy, their electro-pop has a new depth, noticeable on new songs like We Want To and even old ones like indie-disco confection Ice Cream.
They might not be as new as in 2007, but this set and their recent second album showed they have more than one trick (sorry) and are sure festival favourites this summer. (AS)