Review: Girls @ The Lexington, Sep 21st.
Posted by: nick
Girls of San Fran-bleeding-good-music-like-it’s-going-out-of-fashion-cisco played our gig of the week at The Lexington in Angel last night. We were eager to see whether the dreamy, distorted West Coast pop of their forthcoming debut album would stand up live or whether it’d be another disappointing case of falling in love with an album only to find the band has no noteworthy live presence. We’re not naming any names (Miracle Fortress last year).
Mercifully there was to be no such disappointment this evening. Main men Christopher Owens on vocals and Chet JR Baker on bass were joined onstage by, if their myspace is to be believed, should have been John Anderson and Garet Godard on lead guitar and drums. Names aside both were impressive additions to the core duo.
Their debut album is a largely laid back, stoned, dreamy affair and that atmosphere is reflected in their live show which wreaks of a druggy haze. The songs are intricately and passionately performed without ever breaking sweat. ‘Laura’ sets the bar high early on while the as found on album combination of ‘Curls’ and ‘Darling’ prove just as endearing, a two song journey through West Coast pop without pause for thought. ‘Lust For Life’ picks up the pace and singalong factor a notch and the set is brought to a perfect close with one of the songs of the year so far, ‘Hellhole Ratrace’ in which the bent legged Chris proclaims:
” I dont want to die without shaking up a thing or two
yeah, i want to do some dancing too
so come on, come on, come on, come on, dance with me.”
Sublime.
Girls play a free gig at Rough Trade East tomorrow and are then back in London this October.
Check out the new live video for the excellent ‘Laura’ below, shot in front of friends in San Francisco, and should you so desire it Girls debut ‘Album’ is out in the States today through True Panther Sounds/Matador.
mp3: Girls – Darling
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