With a lead singer who looks like Jarvis Cocker, a backing singer possessing flat, Blondie-esque tones, and a guitarist who trips around the stage in an oh-so-cool fashion, you just know that The Strange Idols will be, at the very least, entertaining. Raw drumming, hungry strumming and lyrically buzzing melodies sing out around the barely-there audience, which proves not at all to put off the full on shin dig of a set. Defeated ballad 'This Old City' cries out with beauty and dignity, and new single 'Doors' exhibits some wild call and response between the two singers. Warm, driving beats pulsate throughout the inherently catchy 'Failed Attempt At A Love Song', and with the passionate, frenzied closing number 'She's Gonna Let You Down Again' little doubt is left as to this five piece's potential.
Charismatic frontman Gypsy lights up the stage as Querelle deliver a gorgeously enchanting, experimental wave of noise and beauty. Kicking off with the achingly haunting 'Shanty Town', the heavy, penetrative guitar so integral to the distinct Querelle sound effectively rouses the previously somewhat subdued audience. The mesmeric combination of stark talent and sensual chaos casts an affirmative aura over their note perfect performance. With deep political and philosophical meaning cemented within songs from their recent, self titled mini album, it does not seem at all pretentious or out of character when Gypsy introduces the poignant, sweeping track 'Little Things' with the warning to “beware of the Fascists”. Much strutting and pouting was to be had throughout the entirety of the epic noise anthem 'Sore', but 'Wise can overlook this because the substance of this band far over rides the trivialities of style.
Waltzing out on stage to a sampling of early Duran Duran classic 'The Chauffeur' Nemo certainly cuts a fine figure of a band. With a very 80' retro feel to their enigmatic, energetic set, this band strut, stroll and sway around the stage like they own it. Delivering a fast paced, enchanting set full of hip shaking synth punk, catchy dance-able delights such as 'Picadilly In Sepia', 'Rescue' and the brand new '20-20 Vision' sparkled with passion. Ever the entertainers, not even the athsma attack suffered by the charismatic frontman stilted the show.
