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Meet Antonio. The trilby wearing, lip pouting member of
Querelle. He smoulders like a French film star, wears war paint on his left cheek and acts like Michael Stipe. Antonio has a lot going for him-there's just one problem. He's not Querelle's front man. And that's where the bands problems all start.There's nothing wrong with Querelle's sound. If you like your indie rock hard and heavy then you'll love them. (Their new single 'Carry On' is a bone rattling guitar fest that has the Silver Rocket crowd on its knees). The problem is the Franz Ferdinand complex (bassist wants to kill singer) that evidently exists between the genuinely charismatic front man Gypsy, and the hugely contrived Antonio. (Fortunately drummer Valentina is happy to take a back seat and let her talent do the talking) We want to like Querelle - we really do. The problem is, like the people tittering beside us, we just can't concentrate on the music. Why?
Antonio won't let us. When Gypsy leans into the crowd, snarling like a well-seasoned rock God, what does Antonio do? He plays harder, snarls louder and pouts like a Botoxed beauty queen. And he doesn't just do it the once. This bizarre power play continues throughout the whole gig.
Querelle have the sort of art school chic image and raw edged sound that could make them genuine players on the British indie scene. They just might have too tranquilise Antonio first.
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