Gig Review: Gossip
- Posted on September 14, 2007 12:41 PM
- 2 comments
The Forum, 13th September.
The first act to take to the stage was No Bra. No Bra was a braless female, (questionable) standing in only her underpants, with a huge silver pendant dangling over one side of her naked chest and hair pulled over the other side. She looked like a mermaid that had just struggled to the shores of Kentish Town – but had grown a moustache along the way. I didn’t quite know what to make of her – was she mocking herself, was she being serious? Did she think it was good? Did it make it good because she knew it wasn’t good? I suppose it was a form of expression, perhaps more like a piece of art than music. It was unique – I will give her that. As she wondered off the stage, looking for a razor and hopefully a bra, the next support act, Panther bounded onto the stage.
Panther: man on vocals, man on drums, lots of random echoing words that were repeated over and over, followed by some strange dance moves and not much applause from the crowd. That’s all I can say. I did kind of like it though – a misunderstood musician I think?! Just get the Gossip on…
Beth Ditto is incredible. I am quite certain that no other live act will surpass this one for a long time (unless I get those damn Take That tickets – seriously). She thundered onto the stage looking striking in an all-in-one shiny, purple cat suit and heavily made up eyes. She greeted the charged crowd in her deep, southern drool and then dived in to the set. They played various tracks from the album and their new single Jealous Girls. The entire gig was captivating with all eyes glued on Beth, drinking her in, consumed in awe. She bellowed, she screamed and she sung, obviously feeling and believing every single word that was fired from her mouth. The Gossip are not about money or fame, they are about music and freedom, ‘THAT’S PUNK’ she shot into the audience, ‘If you don’t like me – F*** Off.’ Her eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she bent over, wiggling her behind and sauntering about the stage, blustering on about being gay, feminism and punk, empowering the audience. But it wasn’t like she was ranting, people weren’t rolling their eyes – they LOVED it.
There was not one highlight, but three. The first was when she whipped out a couple of lines from riot girl band Bikini Kill’s Rebel Girl. The second was as the guitars’ crashed to a climax as Standing In The Way Of Control started. An electric volt seemed to zigzag through the sweaty crowd. Everyone surged forward and really began to let go. The stage suddenly filled up with various backstage members and the support acts, all dancing, uninhibited and bringing the party to the stage.
And then – the gloriously sweet icing on the cake - was the Gossip’s encore. As Beth ran back into the spotlight, she broke into her own take on George Michael’s Careless Whisper. What a way to end an astounding performance.
Check out the Gossip's Myspace at www.myspace.com/gossipband
- Zarina Raja
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Comments (2)
Kate Spiegelhalter
I'm in love...
Posted on September 14, 2007 1:15 PM
Gay lord Focker
rebel girl!!
Posted on September 14, 2007 2:33 PM
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