11 May 2010 (gig)
16 May 2010
A cold Tuesday night sees me attending the Islington Academy once again. I love this small atmospheric venue and it’s just as well as I seem to be coming here quite a lot lately!
Tonight the first all girl punk the Slits are here to entertain us and to publicise their new album Trapped Animal and the 30th anniversary edition of the Cut that boasts original demo versions.
First up tonight are the enigmatic 'Our Mountain’. These guys really make you sit up listen. They definitely have a very dark side and remind me at times of bands such as Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen and Bauhaus.
Matt Hutchison is 'Our Mountain’s’ lead vocalist and is the main focus of today’s show. He was born in Victoria Australia and spent most of his life travelling 16 countries with his missionary mother. He puts on an amazing show throwing his angst ridden body around the stage and at times into the audience. The guys really are on the way up, although I don’t think this was the right gig for them. The mainly punk audience seemed a little bemused at this serious dark performer.
The main band tonight take to the stage shortly after. The 2010 version of the slits consist of only two original members but the others have enough charisma to fill the shoes of the past members.
Their set is completely shambolic with guest vocalists appearing out of nowhere and changes to the set-list happening every other song. Is this annoying or distracting? Not at all. This is what the Slits are all about and are having so much fun you can’t help but smile and dance along with their punk/reggae groove.
Highlights tonight are Typical girls and their amazing cover of 'heard it on the grapevine although their splattering of new songs prick up my ears and make me look forward to hearing the new album.
They end their set with the keyboard player having a wee into a pint glass behind the amps (you couldn’t see anything luckily!) and throwing it into the audience! Who says punk is dead!
