The ‘mystery’ headline act I saw on Saturday night was The Pipettes, a band I was introduced to by the housemate I went to see them with at the weekend. When we saw they were on we both immediately agreed that we had to go and see them - Not because they are the best band ever, but because judging from their previous album, a gig of theirs should be a lot of fun.
They play heavily upon a retro look and sound think polka dots and (on their first album at least) a 60s sound, that’s catchy and eminently danceable to. In fact, I even said to my housemate beforehand it was a shame I was going with him and not a girl, as I knew I’d probably dance their set away given the chance.
I was right as well, whilst I didn’t have a partner by the end of their set I’d given up taking photos (thanks mainly to my batteries dying) and opted to concentrate on the dancing.
Their set was a mixed bag, about 40/60 old and new. The old went down well and the new went down better once the crowd had warmed up a little. I do feel they missed a trick starting with an unfamiliar track and not opening with their, “We are the Pipettes”. Although as how only one of the band dates from the album where that track appears, I can understand why they didn’t do it - Although to be honest to me The Pipettes are more of a concept rather than individual members of a band.
Whilst their older material had the 60s sound, their newer stuff was a much more up to date sound - Well 10 years more up to date anyways and was decidedly disco in flavour. all I can say to this is that whilst I love disco I hope they get this album released sooner rather than later so they can start on their 80s album - Yes, I love 80s music and no, I am not really old enough to have appreciated it the first time round.
I only had one problem with their act and that was the girl standing too far apart, as you can see in the picture at the top it was pretty much impossible to get all three in on the same photo.
I was worried last night about going to a gig crossdressed for the club night I was expected to appear at afterwards, as this photo shows I needn’t have worried:
Allow me to explain, last night I was more in demand than I have been for ages and I was double-booked. On the last Saturday of the month is a regular night I attend called Pandora’s Box. This is a night that thanks to a combinaion of my penchant for dressing up and my friends I am considered underdressed if I am dressed as a man. As proof of this I offer an extract of a conversation I had there the first time I was their dressed as a man.
Her: Hi… I know your face, but I can’t place the name. Me: Think wig and heels. Her: You’re Jessica?* Me: Yup.
(Insert 2-3 minutes of ‘How are you?’ type chat.)
Her: Fuck, it’s weird talking to you dressed as man. Me: Really? Her: Well this is the first time I have spoken to you dressed as a man. Whenever I see you you are wearing more make up than me. Me: Point taken.
I had even planned an outfit for the night, or rather I was planning to wear the outfit I was planning to wear last month until I wound up not going out.
However on Thursday, my housemate and I noticed that there was a gig on for a band that we both liked - Naturally it was last night as well. Fortunately the timings didn’t really clash as the gig was at a club before a club night and Pandora’s Box is a slightly clubby night - Inasmuch as it has loud music and dancing until the early hours.
The catch was though was before going out to the club where I usually cross-dress, I had a gig to go to. A gig at an unknown venue where I had no idea how well a man in a dress would go down and I have to admit it I bottled it. I decided to go out dressed as a man, despite the fact I have more fun tarted up.
Turns out though I shouldn’t really have worried, whilst the headline act who we wanted to see was all woman, both of the support acts had cross-dressing men in them. One because they had a man standing in for their regular drummer and as they were the She Creatures, they had him squeezed into a sequinned dress - Although sadly they hid him at the back so it was hard to get any pictures of that particular vision of loveliness.
The next act made up for that however, as the crossdresser was their lead singer, who whilst not in a dress and was a self proclaimed vision. Although somewhat randomly choosing to open with their lead singer declaring he was here to “bitchslap us”, Billie the Vision and the Dancers put on a great show with an abundance of energy and whilst I might not have called the band dancers, they certainly bounced around the stage a lot - I may not have been bouncing, but I’d be lying if I said my foot wasn’t tapping throughout their set.
They are also kind enough to have their music online for download, with a pay what you think it’s worth policy and I have to admit that it’s certainly worth a listen and parting with a little cash for - If you only listen to one of their songs try Lily from Middleway Street.
As to the headline act themselves, I’ve not mentioned their name for a reason - It’s so I can save their photo for tomorrow.
*As well as me friends getting me to come out dressed up, they also suggested I should have a name. I tried Jessica, but ultimately settled on Dave.
It wasn’t just the cellist, Lady Joo Hee (pictured yesterday) who was delectable - The backing singers/dancers for Emilie Autumn also did their part to ensure rapt attention was being paid to the stage throughout the evening.
Last week when I saw Emilie Autumn she was not alone on stage, she she some rather delectable company in the form of Lady Joo Hee playing the cello.
According to her MySpace page she repaid her teachers by murdering them and now only plays with people who cant read music as it, “makes her feel smarter”.
Unusually for a Wednesday, I am not taking photos at Glamorgan Uni to help those that drank a little too much remember the night the following day. However although I may not have been in Trefforest, I was still taking photos, as Jagged the band for whom I am the pet photographer were doing their second gig tonight in support of Emilie Autumn.
I have to admit that I’ve not been to many gigs lately, but even if I had this would still have been one of the best gigs I have been to for a while - I may not have known what either Sieben or Emilie Autumn sounded like before tonight, but I am a convert to both!
Anyways I have to be up at 5:30am as I have work at 7am, so I am off to bed for now and I’ll probably post more about tonight tomorrow. For now though here’s Emilie Autumn on YouTube:
Jagged have appeared on these pages before, thanks to enlisting me to do photos for them back at the end of last year for their EP. Now however they have got around to their first gig, which was tonight at the Louisiana and I appear to have become the band’s photographer as I was asked along to take photos tonight* and for their next gig in April.
Now a photo doesn’t tell you what they sound like, so here is a link to the band’s MySpace.
*This meant that tonight I was able to achieve a personal ambition of mine - Walking into a gig and instead of showing a ticket just say, “I’m with the band” and get let in.
