Bad Lieutenant

Last night, Heaven was a place where something might just happen. For New Order freaks and those who go even further back, the Bad Lieutenant project in a live setting has been a tantalising prospect. Formed back in 2007 by three of the former members of New Order (Bernard Sumner, Stephen Morris, and Phil Cunningham) and now with a CD in the shops, it has been a long time in the making, with a lot to prove.

For a venue called Heaven, the atmosphere is distinctly subterranean. Located in the arches beneath Charing Cross Station, it's a venue most people know as a gay nightclub, however, it transforms itself easily into a rock venue with a high level, spacious stage down one end, and a bar and alcove seating in an adjacent arch. Arriving early, I have no trouble getting a drink which is no great surprise as the surrounding streets are well served with good pubs and wine bars.

The band take the stage fashionably late, perhaps awaiting the arrival of Mark E. Smith who takes his place amongst the audience sporting a retro-look, short back and sides.



The set takes us backwards through time starting with material from the band's recently launched album 'Never Cry Another Tear', all of which is well received by the crowd. Only the commercial sounding single 'Sink Or Swim' really gets the fee tapping though, and interestingly it's the song that is most reminiscent of the New Order sound, but with jangly guitar.

Guitars take more and more prominence as the night progresses. This band has three after the addition of Jake Evans, who also deputises on vocals and is tonight celebrating his 24th birthday. It's been said that Sumner has been keen to move away from the New Order sound, so drafting in a young pair of hands and vocal chords was a shrewd move.

It's a raw, energetic sound. "Rocktastic" as Sumner himself remarks at one point, although he assiduously retunes his guitar between numbers. Lesser bands could learn something from that!



Drums and bass are also prominent in the mix, but the musicians are almost invisible in the gloom at the back of the stage. Nothing to do with Sumner's current antipathy to certain bassists I'm sure.

Backwards we go with Chemical Brother's 'Out Of Control'. The tape loops kick in, the mosh begins to swell and the temperature rises. A teasingly long intro takes us into 'Temptation' and the party really kicks off in earnest. This is a juke-box, iPod shuffle of a gig, bizarrely with the clock in reverse.

The band leave and reappear. A lad next to me yells 'Transmission!' and as if to order the band strikes it up, completing the backwards narrative of the night. It's a great song and poignant to hear at any time, but following it up with 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' felt like a step too far into the past. Suddenly we were in the realms of the tribute act. Sumner yelling "Let's have it!" in the chorus seemed almost disrespectful. The crowd seem to disagree and accompany him in joyful fashion.

Bad Lieutenant will be performing as very special guests on the forthcoming UK leg of the Pet Shop Boys' tour.

FUTURE GIGS

sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.