One office Christmas party and six hours of G&Ts didn’t stand in the way of me making my way to Camden for Louis’ gig. Camden Rock used to be the entrance to Sainsbury’s car park – it’s a breeze block annexe with a cash bar and toilets with a swing door that can best be described as ‘wild west’. Can I just say that I ****ing love venues like this. O2IndigoInsertnamingrightsoflargecorporationhere venues can kiss my ****.
Lost Controllers were first up. Not my cup of tea I have to say – in the 21st Century I find it hard to digest that light-Depeche Mode synth-pop sound….but it really was just me because the audience really enjoyed it. As a testament to Lost Controllers – whilst I was at the bar, the girl serving was singing along to the second chorus of one song, despite having never heard it before they started playing it(they hadn’t sound-checked it). Lost Contollers were quite infectious, got the night off to a bang and finished to much applause and cheer.
The DJ played Numan – which got a massive cheer and the chant of Numan! Numan! went on throughout ‘We Are Glass’ (…or was it I Die: You Die?) and the Usual Suspects: Human League, Foxx & Gordon, Depeche bleedin’ Mode…
Tenek came on – again, that Depeche Mode synth-pop sound but a bit more to it. Very dance (early 90s dance) oriented and good stage presence – not surprising to know that this lot are off on a full-on European tour early next year including Moscow. As slightly plastered as I was, I can still remember(ish) some of the songs;
No Fighting,
Stateless (which vaguely reminded me of
Empire State Human and
Dancing. I think the DJ was vaguely reminded too because after the set and much applause for Tenek, he played
Empire State Human.
I chatted to Louis for a bit – a garbled conversation about the Haçienda / when E’s were good / best rave we ever attended (so good – neither of us can remember the name of them, but that they had been in fields and were very illegal). By bizarre chance the DJ started playing
French Kiss by Lil’ Louis - a ‘huge choon’ from days of E and getting blissfully lost in fields.
And then it’s Louis’ turn – ably assisted by Matty Toffee. Brian says the set will be very different from last night (Brian also forgot to mention that there were several people on this very Forum full-on po-going at Nottingham to Louis doing
Concrete, Bulletproof, Invisible armed with nothing more than a microphone and a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale! But I shan’t divulge Brian or Rob’s names and their anonymity is assured….well – that’s what I heard anyway on very good authority…namely the bloke with a microphone and a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale!)
So which Louis am I gonna get?
Do you remember that urban legend in the 70s?
The one about four cans of coca-cola and a packet of space dust?
I got that Louis. And it were ****in’ great!
He comes on to, of all things –
Cathedral Oceans! No. Really! All similarity to ambience ends there. It kicks off, KICKS off – with a track that might be called
Over Again – which sounds like Slade and Hendrix covering
Perfume by Paris Angels – fantastic!
Please remember – like Rowley Birkin QC – I was very, very drunk, so memory is failing me. It’s all colours and noise and a very happy crowd. The words ‘Space Rock’ come to mind, but not in the CAN sense. I’m trying to find the words for it but all I can think to say is; Louis Gordon and Matty Toffee on four cans of cola and packets of space dust. There’s a very beautiful song that you must hear –
Angel on my Shoulder and then the four cans of cola and packets of space dust-power pop of
Magic Eye sort of closes the set. The crowd’s in good form, it's been a great evening, and I say sort of closes the set, because whilst breaking the gear down, the ‘Turkey’ song gets played and we get Louis doing Bruce Forsyth-style stage moves whilst simultaneously tidying his guitar cables.
You had to be there.
Prefereably with four cans of cola and packets of space dust.