Electric Six announced themselves with their astounding debut album ‘Fire’ in 2003. An indie alternative box of delights, it was an album that would eclipse all future recordings. Having seen them live several times in 2003/2004, other bands then stole the limelight, and it was not until Saturday, December 7, 2024, that I finally got around to seeing them again.
The twenty years that have passed have seen multiple line-up changes, with only lead vocalist and primary songwriter Dick Valentine remaining a constant member. The output has been prolific, an album nearly every year. Depending on your source, they’ve released around 20 albums. Walking into O2 Academy Islington, it was hard to know what to expect.
The answer was a succession of three-minute blasts of guitar-heavy indie pop, delivered with the kind of precision only honed by two decades of relentless touring. Little has changed for Electric Six: the years pass, but the tide of well-written, high-energy music remains.
The setlist traversed the band’s sprawling discography, though the debut album ‘Fire’ still formed the backbone of the performance. Fan favourites such as ‘Danger! High Voltage’ and ‘Gay Bar,’ both from ‘Fire’, remain indelible staples of their live show, with Valentine’s vocal theatrics and the band’s driving energy keeping them as fresh as they were in 2003. The explosive encore of ‘Dance Commander,’ another ‘Fire’ track, closed the show in a raucous celebration.
The night was not, however, solely about nostalgia. Tracks like “Turquoise,” from their 2023 album of the same name, and also “Hot Numbers on the Telephone,” showed the band’s knack for combining humorous lyrics with tight, punchy arrangements. It won’t surprise anyone to learn they are also working on a new album to be released in the near future no doubt.
Dick Valentine’s stage persona remains a commanding presence, his deadpan delivery underscoring the comic absurdity of tracks like ‘Naked Pictures (Of Your Mother)’ which saw the crowd singing in unison, also from their debut album.
The six-piece also offer up ‘Down at McDonnelzzz’ from the 2005 album ‘Señor Smoke’ to endear them to long-time fans. The encore brought further highlights, including the enigmatic 'We Were Witchy Witchy White Women,' a deep cut from 2008’s ‘Flashy’ that delighted the hardcore crowd.
The band’s formula a cocktail of humour, bombast, and undeniable musical craftsmanship remains as potent as ever. For a group often dismissed as a novelty act in their early days, their ability to pack venues and deliver high-octane performances two decades later is nothing short of impressive.
Walking out of this sold-out of O2 Academy Islington, it was clear that Electric Six are not just surviving but thriving, their career propelled by a seemingly inexhaustible creative energy. Whether revisiting old classics or delivering newer material, the band proved they remain a potent force in live music.
Setlist Turquoise Mr. Woman Hello! I See You I Don’t Like You Naked Pictures (Of Your Mother) Staten Island Ass Squad Down at McDonnelzzz The New Shampoo Gay Bar Gay Bar Part Two She's White Dirty Ball Hot Numbers on the Telephone Panic! Panic! When I Get to the Green Building Future Is in the Future Improper Dancing / (Who the Hell Just) Call My Phone? Danger! High Voltage Synthesizer Dance Epidemic I Buy the Drugs
Encore: We Were Witchy Witchy White Women Dance Commander
