The Long Blondes + Kid Acne – The Cavern, Exeter, 25/03/08

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Exeter Cavern’s low black ceiling, brick walls and brick arches was the subterranean setting for tonight’s gig, a pre album release headline tour for The Long Blondes. The crowd were mostly made up of 20 somethings, somewhat unsurprisingly about 80% were going with the librarian look, tight fitted cardigans, jumpers, jeans and t-shirts, all in various pastel shades, which didn’t really match up with the opener, Kid Acne.

The flat-capped white Sheffield lad was an expressive ball of energy on the stage, accompanied by his DJ. The songs he chose for the half hour set focused on the funny and anthemic tracks from his Romance Ain’t Dead album of last year (review here, and I would say that I have probably cooled somewhat on the album, but still like it).

Unfortunately the crowd didn’t really get into it, except for the very front row, and I think that’s because, potentially, Acne at his best is grin inducing shout alongs, but you have to know the tracks for that to work, and precious few at the gig did.

However, there were some highlights. ‘Worst Luck’ was more upbeat than on the album, with the chorus of “Got two phones like a drug dealer” infectious, as Ackers held up his own mobile and swayed. Single ‘Eddie Fresh’ seemed to go over well with its “Don’t fuck with Eddie Fresh” refrain, playful springy bass and some horns. ’2,3 Break It’ was excellent, Ackers got fully involved in the song and the cut and paste guitar rock backing track was more to the crowd’s taste.

A nice tight set that hardly stopped for breath, and I was surprised by how many lyrics I still remembered, my set-long silly grin was evidence enough of how enjoyable it was.

After a 10 minute equipment check The Long Blondes appeared. Looking like… well, real people that you could pass in the street, funnily enough. This was the 4th gig I’d ever been to, so I suppose I’m still a bit naïve when it comes to all this, but it was undeniably weird to see this band as people, not the amalgamation of words, songs, album covers and hype that I had been assuming beforehand.

Kate Jackson was smiley and friendly, saying this was the furthest west they had been, and that it was lovely to be here, and etc. The opening static-y synth and the ethereal ‘Catch me when I’m falling’ introduced the set opener and first single ‘Century’. Bassist Reenie Hollis and drummer Screech Louder laid down the tight rhythm and I was away and dancing. Kate Jackson’s sigh of “Everything I touch/Lightning trails of human life” actually trailed a fine gold dust in it’s wake, the reverb heavy on her voice. The band really nailed it and managed to draw the crowd in a bit, despite the relative newness of the song. After this, the Long Blondes laid into the most punkish and hard rocking of the songs off new album ‘Couples’. ‘I Liked The Boys’ was fast, short and hard, ‘Here Comes The Serious Bit’ similarly so, with the crowd loosening up and pogoing along. A stroke of set-list genius next as they went into ‘Lust In The Movies’, a huge crowd favourite, and a cresting of intensity, as most people went forwards and shouted out the chorus of “Edie Sedgewick, Anna Karenina, Arlene Dahl/I just want to be a sweetheart”.

New songs ‘Guilt’, ‘The Couples’ and ‘Erin O’Connor’ all appeared at some point, but it is hard to remember where or when, but suffice to say they were well executed. There was a curious thing with these new songs, you would have this eminently danceable rhythm going, all cool and easy to get along with, then it would be pulled suddenly from underneath your feet, and you wouldn’t be able to find it again until the same part of the song cycled back. Maybe this is just an indication of my own rhythm, though. ‘Round The Hairpin’ was a highlight of the night, I had been on the fence about the song for a while, with it’s impressionistic lyrics and serious demeanour, but tonight’s performance has warmed me to it. Like with ‘Century’ there is a heavy dose of keyboard synth sounds and an almost militaristic rhythm section, when it is live, though, the guitar and synths combine into the glamour of Roxy Music and the spiralling howl of a John McGeoch performance for either Siouxsie And The Banshees or Magazine. A feverish atmosphere.

One of the very few non Couples song of the evening came in the form of set closing ‘Giddy Stratospheres’, which everyone went mad for. There was a rush to the stage as the sibilant bass and rapid clash of the guitar started up the song, and people began pogoing and generally flailing about. I was short on breath three quarters through, it felt like I was going to pass out, but I managed to stay with it til the end. The crowd cheered, clapped and asked for more as the band filed off the stage, but thankfully the Sheffield quintet called it a night, as they couldn’t possibly have finished any better than they did.

A really good gig, the new songs were very well executed, the dancing elements and the rocking elements became enhanced, often in the same song. Kate Jackson writhed around, at her best she never seemed to stop moving, especially in evidence during the first few rocking songs, and she managed to nail the more ethereal vocal parts. Guitarist and main lyricist Dorian Cox took centre stage a few times to show off with an atmospheric solo, whilst wearing an Adam And The Ants t-shirt.

Look out for our review of their new album shortly…