Bleech looked slightly out of place supporting Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros the last time I saw them at Koko. Though both bands deal in revivals of sort Bleech’s influence stem from late 80s and early 90s angular rock. It has become clear that the format for these Friday Club NME nights, picking and matching two or three up and coming acts, can create great contrast and tonight is no different.
First up are the bizarrely named all girl Finnish band Le Corps Mince De Francois. The trio ooze Nordic cool delivering shouty sound bytes over a dose of pulsating electro-pop. Quirky ‘Bitch Of The Bitches’ is a highlight coming across like Peaches’ ‘Fuck The Pain Away’ for the Facebook/ Twitter/ Youtube generation.
They end they set in boisterous fashion hitting their instruments , limbs flailing and the house lights flashing with the audience roaring their appreciation. With an album release presumably due soon I will be keeping my eyes on these ladies.
The less I say about The Drums the better it will be for me. I listened to some of their music before heading down but couldn’t hear anything recognizable during their set. Familiarity is not necessary to enjoy a performance but something to grips you surely is…. this was sadly lacking tonight.
Instead the band look like a rock reinterpretation of early Backstreet Boys and their tracks are lost on me. They probably deserve a second opportunity and certainly didn’t lack energy but tonight they failed to make a mark on me.
Bleech hit the stage just as the dance floor looks at its most busy and are greeted by some loutish chants. Having 2 attractive women at the front of the stage suggests they are probably used to this yet, at the risk of sounding prudish, I was quite angered. To their credit the band use it to their advantage, first mocking the poor-man’s football terrace chants and then launching into their first track with gusto.
Musically the band hasn’t changed drastically since I last saw them coming through like a cross between Elastica’s pop sensibilities and Nirvana’s abrasive sound. There are plenty of melodies to get hooked on and the band play their instruments skilfully. Frontwoman Jennifer O’Neill throws every inch of her small frame around, twists her guitar and seeks an interaction with the audience. She reminds me of a younger Courtney Love, albeit with better conditioner.
Her sister, and the bands bassist, Katherine O’Neill is a different proposition altogether. Standing barefoot to the right, she alternates between sudden bursts of whiplash inducing headbanging action and a confident statuesque stance. Meanwhile behind drummer Matt Brick beats the hell out of his kit and, together with Katherine, provides a thunderous foundation for the tracks.
With the band having planned a seemingly infinite tour schedule, including stops in some of Britain’s most notorious venues, it is a slight surprise to find out they are still unsigned. Having watched their performance tonight it is clear that the band are confident in both performing and playing. What they are missing now is that elusive 5% extra that will push them from being the band that “sounds like…” to a recognised force in their own right. The foundations are present and the band are youthful, I’m sure their craft will have benefited from these months on the road.
Photos by honorary cougar Stefan, check out his Flickr page
TRACKS:
Bleech – I Know What I Am
