Gabby Young and Other Animals / The Moulettes / The Magic Lantern

There's been a last-minute change of venue - this show was due to be held at the Soho Revue Bar, which was double-booked, and so was moved to Hoxton Hall. It turns out to be a stroke of luck as the new venue has loads of character and is ideal for an evening of vaudevillian bands and burlesque compères. Hoxton Hall is a Victorian music hall theatre with mirror ball lights dancing around a wooden dance floor which is overhung by two balconies with wrought iron railings around them, facing a two-tier stage framed by red drapes.



The first support band is The Magic Lantern, a London-based quintet (guitars, cello, percussion and bass clarinet), mixing jazz and classical influences with folk. The music is laid-back, with forlorn vocals that have an alt-country twang. Their last song, 'Somebody Told Me', with its mournful refrain of "we've got nothing to say" is the highlight of the set.

Next up are The Moulettes, who the headliner discovered at the Secret Garden Party in July. Backed by drums, the two female vocalists also play cello, bassoon and autoharp, and immediately grab everyone's attention by announcing that the first song is about "eating your lover in revenge for his betrayal". This is a common theme, another song, 'Bloodshed in the Woodshed', is about killing a lover that has spurned you and races through different methods for doing so. The lyrics are dark throughout but very funny and the music is rompingly upbeat, accurately described on the flyer as 'swing based stomping folk'; absolutely irresistible.



Tonight's main excuse for a gig is the launch of Gabby Young and Other Animals EP, 'Bear With Me', which is released on Monday, their debut album will be recorded next year. The band have a great vaudevillian image and Gabby Young is flamboyantly dressed, resembling a beautiful mermaid, with red hair piled on top of her head, secured with glittery butterflies, wearing a green sequinned dress with white fishtail, elegant white gloves, and glamorous make-up - silver eyelashes and fish-scales (sequins I think!) around the eyes. She's barefoot and arrives carrying a parasol and wearing a smile that doesn't fade.

Young is backed by drums, two trumpets, sax, clarinet, double bass, keys and accordion on the stage above. She is accompanied on the lower stage by Stephen Ellis, playing guitar and melodica, and providing backing vocals. Ellis is also frontman for the excellent band, Revere, and has a very theatrical voice which he reins in tonight to let Young’s voice shine and soar. Young's vocals are stunningly powerful and she has an astonishing range from ear-splitting loud and thrillingly shrill to low and raunchy.



Several tracks from the EP are showcased. The EP title is taken from a line in 'Mole', an emotional song, tonight dedicated to Young's parents, which is more subdued and reflective than most of the music played. On the whole, the songs have a high feel-good factor and are very danceable. The assortment of instruments creates a jazzy sound, referred to as 'circus swing', which is slightly chaotic and spontaneous sounding at times but is clearly well rehearsed. The main set finishes with everyone dancing along to the lively 'Snakebite'.

For the encore, we're encouraged to waltz to 'Maybe' and happily oblige. This is followed by a raucous cover of the Cure's 'Love Cats', with trumpets and kazoo, segued with 'Everybody Wants to be a Cat' - a cue for more audience participation.

The essence of this sold-out show has been fun, the band members have clearly enjoyed themselves and look elated, and there's been animated singing along, uninhibited dancing, exhibitionist costumes, smiles all round...

FUTURE GIGS

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