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Little Boots wore snazzy shoes instead. Picture: Dan Aitch |
Bragging rights fall to men like them
CAMDEN CRAWL 2009 - SATURDAY
LITTLE BOOTS
The Roundhouse
CLAD in a shimmering blue dress, pop starlet Victoria Hesketh – aka Little Boots – lit up the moody darkness of the Roundhouse like a ball of lightning.
Her unabashed pure pop and glitz was a long way from the Crawl’s indie rock roots and a welcome change. The slightly suspicious crowd gradually picked up ripples of her energy as she played songs like new single New in Town and high-energy closer Stuck on Repeat. This was the biggest gig of her career so far – but rapidly rising Little Boots seems ready for more.
ALAN STAFFORD
THE XX
Black Cap
THEY were turning people away at the Black Cap as others queued for a glimpse of The XX and some lo-fi melodic melancholia.
Joint singers Romy and Oliver silenced one end of the bustling bar as they breathed bewitching life into their sparse, simple songs.
The effect was a bit lost on those further back though as the quiet set mingled unhappily with overheard pub conversations – but the almost supernatural essence of the band shone through. One to watch (but maybe not here.)
NB – The XX must get confused all the time with XX Twins, but the similarities end with the name. AS
BILLY BRAGG
Dublin Castle
THIS was one of the outstanding shows of the Crawl, and not from a bright young hope but a veteran of more than 30 years touring.
Billy Bragg (pictured left) came onstage with his trademark fire and energy, despite having performed only hours earlier in Islington in honour of the Tolpuddle Martyrs.
After a heartfelt introduction by Steve Lamacq he skipped through his back catalogue with plenty of help from the crowd.
He was funny too – explaining his sinking heart when Tory Shadow Chancellor George Osborne came bounding over to chat about his music, and how Boris Johnson would be a better mayor near Bragg’s home in Dorset than London. After closer New England the crowd response was so intense he literally couldn’t get offstage. Slightly taken aback, he launched into Sexuality before he was allowed out. Brilliant – the only shame was more of those who queued outside couldn’t get in. AS
THE FALL
Electric Ballroom
EVERYONE knows about The Fall – John Peel’s favourite band, done so many records Mark E Smith has lost count, iconic indie trailblazers etc etc.
And they’ve done great things, sure, including their last album Imperial Wax Solvent – but this gig really wasn’t one of them.
Smith stumbled around the stage like an unwanted uncle at a funeral, mumbling and snarling into whichever microphone he hadn’t knocked over.
The rest of the band were tight but mostly unremarkable as they went through songs from Solvent including Wolf Kidult and 50 Year Old Man.
All in all not that impressive and did little to explain the band’s lasting appeal – a point underlined by the couple of beer cans that were thrown on stage. AS
MAN LIKE ME
Monarch
UNRESERVEDLY the best show of the weekend. It was like a carnival from the second they started playing - admittedly 15 minutes late after losing their tuba player - how do you lose a tuba player anyway?
These Camden boys kept the energy up, made the idea of standing still inconceiveable, jumped all over the stage, paraded with their brass instruments, all punctuated by hilarious little coordinated dance sequences. The most humourous and good-natured of them all, they may not have fitted in with the general indie-ness of the Crawl but they were exactly what was needed. ROISIN GADELRAB
ROD THOMAS
Edinboro Castle
AS the sun shone, the barbecued sizzled and the beer flowed in the Edinboro Castle's beer garden, ex-busker Rod Thomas provided a sublime backdrop.
His gentle mix of electro beats and poppy folk, were light enough to suit the summer setting, without falling into the Jack Johnson bracket. He managed to stay unimposing yet fresh, eclectic and most importantly, smiley. RG
LAIL ARAD
Jazz Cafe Bookslam
WHO was this animated girl with her captivating mannerisms and story songs that kept us mesmerised at the Jazz Cafe book slam?
It was London singer-songwriter Lail Arad - a quirky girl with a fuzzy fringe, gypsy skirt and theatrical piano skills. She had the confidence of one of those squeaky clean American show performers but where they mindlessly rely on Disney scripts, Lail's lyrics were much more sophisticated, current, quirky and edgy. RG
THE MACCABEES
The Roundhouse
I MISSED the start of the set so don't know if they played the addictive No Kind Words, which has been on repeat on my i-Pod for weeks.
They managed to stay as dark and miserable as they should, their Roundhouse crowd was equally as dour and vulnerable-voiced frontman Orlando ploughed on through the grey clouds. The band played tracks from their second album Wall of Sound but threw in the odd older track such as Toothpaste Kisses.
A stark contrast to Man Like Me, but a sharp return to earth and the indie depression we so love to wallow in. RG
ALESSI'S ARK
The Enterprise
SHE sings about trees and forests and cute things and it's all very lovely and light and nice.
The clarity of Alessi's voice upstairs at The Enterprise was astounding and the room remained quiet and respectful. The queue still went out of the door, down the stairs and round the corner in the street and although it was a very sweet performance, i'd have been just as happy listening to the CD at home on a Sunday afternoon - which I already do. RG
THE JOY FORMIDABLE
Electric Ballroom
WE RUSHED to see them at the Monarch on the Friday night only to find they had cancelled.
And perhaps this was all the best as they filled The Electric Ballroom, commanded a huge queue outside and are responsible for the hook that's still going round in my head today. They were powerful, sexy, rock coming from nowhere - credible, traditional in some ways, but still a good, strong thunderclap of a show. And the lead singer was wearing my dress. RG
KASABIAN
Roundhouse
WHAT can we say about these guys that they haven't already said about themselves? Leggy lead singer Tom Meighan (pictured left), really shouldn't have worn the baggy beige shirt emblazoned with huge black stars, tucked into his little tight jeans - but what does he care, he's in the greatest band on earth right?
Kasabian do their lad-rock anthem themes unbelievably well. They provide endless backing tracks for football clips, and other manly activities and their unique style of chanting, rap-talk, power riffs and echoes hypnotised the Roundhouse crowd into a frenzy. The venue was the ideal size to immerse oneself into Kasabian's mad land and they were shrewd enough to play the old favourites, adding the odd new track and their latest - crowd favourite - Fire. What's even more perplexing about Kasabian is how they have become such a cult band yet their songs and almost impossible to sing along to. A deserving headliner. RG
AFTERPARTY
Dingwalls
MONGREL - who recently gave their first album away for free with the Independent - were supposed to play the after party at Dingwalls.
But some of them missed the bus.
So the remaining members, John McLure (Reverend and the Makers), Drew McConnell (Babyshambles) and rapper Lowkey, gathered together a bunch of other musicians, including former Libertine Carl Barat (pictured left) and Lee Mavers from The La's and decided to improvise instead. I'm not sure if it's happened before but it was fascinating to watch Pete Doherty's old bandmates, Barat play Libertines tunes along with his present band Babyshambles' guitarist McConnell.
Then a young female singer came out with a scrap of paper from which she valiantly read and sang lyrics to McLure's song Ladybird. The drummer, who had heard none of the tunes before, was directed by McConnell, who whispered instructions in between each tune.
Political rapper Lowkey had the crowd shouting Free Palestine before launching into a tongue-twisting alphabet rap - 'shout any letter to me', he urged the crowd.
Lee Mavers looked like he was ready to kick-off. Unhappy using The Holloways' badly tuned guitars, he gave up the first song halfway through but managed his way through a second before unceremoniously stomping offstage.
The Holloways finished things off and the party danced on. I made it home in time to buy the Sunday paper - the best way to end a night knowing you don't even have to get out of bed to read the next day's news. RG
GRAHAM COXON
The Spread Eagle
HEMMED in like battery chickens fighting for air, this surprise gig took the term ‘intimate’ to a new level.
Although I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way, it was a test of endurance and I definitely felt up to the challenge.
Sticking out the sweat box of the Spread Eagle was worth it to hear tracks from Coxon’s new album. As one fan said: “He just makes such a lovely sound.” So lovely in fact, that he even managed to bust the ceiling lights. Quite ‘Spectacular’. APRIL WELSH
DATAROCK at Wonky Pop
The Cuban Bar
DATAROCK epitomise the term ‘wonky pop’: you only have to listen ‘Computer Camp Love’ to see why.
These Norwegians like larkin’ about and don’t take their music too seriously. That’s why watching them at the Cuban Bar was the perfect bit of light relief. For a moment there I could really let my fringe down and attempt the ‘robot’ like a complete idiot. Wonky.
A W
FRANKMUSIC
Koko
VINCENT Frank was going to have a tough job pleasing the indie kids of the Crawl with his poptastic Frankmusik.
However, he actually did pretty well and for a moment there the kids seemed to forget all about being cool. They even went wild for his latest single, ‘Better Off As Two’. Well, apart from the army of plaid shirt clad boys in front of me, who stood with their arms crossed throughout, looking rather disgruntled. Party poopers. AW
ELVINN
The Earl of Camden
ELVINN, playing early evening Saturday, reprised a trend for the seated-lead-singer representation evident at Crawl 09 with a shiny pop-soul set that proved popular, despite having an X-Factor winner's simplicity.
ALLAN LEDWARD
808 STATE
Koko
808 STATE at Koko executed a total overhaul in tone, bringing some much-needed dance glitz.
To their credit, this was more than a recycled greatest hits set. A slow-burning techno tease, with Hacienda revival strobe lighting, finally burst into their big hits including the slick ambience of Pacific State and the rocking In Yer Face. Their 'ta very much' appreciation reminded us of the days when Manchester was the musical epicentre. AL
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