09 February 2011 (gig)
10 February 2011
Katzenjammer on record are a joy from the first notes to the last but in the confines of a very packed Camden Barfly the joy is multiplied – they were great.
They are a sight to behold with multicoloured hair and completely unique style sense and the swapping and changing around of instruments meant that every song retained a level of individuality that the album only hints at. But there isn’t any gimmick about it – they are all capable of playing whichever instrument they happen to be playing at any time and from the first number, ‘Le Pop’, they were manic, explosive and completely bonkers.
The crowd were into the band from the first moments and as they worked their way through ‘Demon Kitty Rag’ and ‘Hey Ho The Devil’s Back’ the heads were bouncing and the beer beginning to be spilt.
I defy anyone to stand still to any of the above and when the trumpet blared out at the start of A Bar in Amsterdam’ it kicked off another bout of furious dancing.
I wonder when the last time was that the Barfly was regaled by a bass Bouzouki, banjo, and accordion but the tiny confines of the stage didn’t seem to get in the girls way as they swapped instruments and vocals number after number.
Their music seems to be without any bounds – they play folk, jazz, cabaret, burlesque or europop equally well – and they play with huge amounts of enjoyment and gusto. They also bring the audience into their music – getting them to sing the whole chorus to ‘The Sea’ – and make them feel a real part of the show.
Best moment? Probably a brilliant waltz-time ‘Mother Superior’ with its Berlin Cabaret feel and accordion solo.
There wasn’t a bad moment – they were exactly what you need on a wet February night and hopefully they will be back soon.
