No real surprise there really, with one of Britain's greatest song writing talents at the helm. But, with the album taking a much more electronic sound than I was used to hearing from Super Furry Animals, I was left wondering whether or not they could transform their 80s influenced electronic sound into an accurate live show. My question was soon answered.
On a typically cold and wet evening, at the Gateshead Sage, a simply exquisite venue, Neon Neon delivered a performance of similar proportions. In a small, 400-person capacity venue, Rhys and Boom Bip accompanied by backing drummer, stand in singer/bass player and guest vocalist, Har Mar Superstar, took to the stage to treat the crowd to a full performance of their debut album.
Opening the night with 'Neon Theme'; the band took the audience on an hour long trip back to the 1980s; with songs like the slow-building sing-along 'Raquel' and the perfect pop hit 'I Lust U', really showing what the band were capable of.
The sound quality inside the venue perfectly complimented the band's sound, and by the time the band reached the climax of their performance with hip-hop based, 'Trick for Treat' with Har Mar Superstar on vocals, and the bass heavy, electro anthems 'Belfast', and 'Michael Douglas' the sound was really getting the audience moving.
Those who started the night sitting down, certainly weren't by this point. This helped further the theatrical nature of Har Mar Superstar; renowned for his eccentric and party-going attitude, who calls for the audience to join in with his monkey-like antics. Rhys and Boom Bip are the talent; but Har Mar Superstar provides the charisma.
The band have a simple 5-piece set up - keyboards and synthesizers, vocals, guitars, and drums. This simplicity is something that many don't expect to be related to electronic music. Acts like Soulwax and Digitalism come armed with instruments, computers and a whole load of effects. Whereas Neon Neon do things differently, they keep things simple, something which the audience seems to recognise, with several audience members simply looking on in awe at the music being played with so few instruments.
Throughout tonight's performance; there are visuals relating to each song; with Raquel Walsh, scenes of the previous fighting in Belfast, and Michael Douglas himself, being prominent throughout. As the night ends following the final song of the band's album 'Stainless Style', many Super Furry Animals fans here tonight (there were lots of lads knocking about in the band's tee-shirts), are left questioning themselves as to whether or not the collaboration between Rhys and Boom Bip should remain as a side-project, or whether it should become something more permanent, and who am I to argue? Anyone who can write songs about Michael Douglas and Star Wars and not make you feel like too much of a sci-fi fan is a winner in my book.
Neon Neon certainly are taking us back to the future.
Setlist:
Neon Theme
Dream Cars
I Told Her on Alderaan
Raquel
Trick for Treat
Steel Your Girl
I Lust U
Sweat Shop
Belfast
Michael Douglas
Luxury Pool
Stainless Style
article by: Anthony Hetherington
published: 11/11/2008 10:29
FUTURE GIGS
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