04 February 2011 (gig)
06 February 2011
The XOYO is a new venue in the heart of London’s business area and I love it. It’s just the right size, sleazy without being dirty and has a great sound.
Its all a bit of an early start tonight and although I get there half an hour after the doors open, I only catch the last song from support band Schwervon, a male/female duo. I wished I had got there earlier as I loved the little I did hear. They come from the dark side of the indie/pop tracks and really impressed me.
After the break the Vaselines bounce onto the stage flanked by members of Belle and Sabastian and a 1990. For those of you not familiar with the delightful Scottish duo, the band formed in 1986, but they were not widely known outside of their native Scotland until their association with Nirvana brought exposure to the band. Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain once described Kelly and McKee as his "most favorite songwriters in the whole world” which at the time was about the best accolade you could get!
Live they are known for their on-stage banter as much as their music and tonight is no exception. Frances points out that her and Eugene were once ‘together’ although he assures her that his penis has got bigger since. There is also much too much talk about masturbation for my liking and this is a family site so I will swiftly move onto the music!
The songs selected for tonight’s performance are a great mix of old and some new songs from their recent LP – ‘Sex with an X’ They played a rip roaring version of my favourite from the album, a not so tongue in cheek swipe at the 80’s called simply I Hate the 80’s.
Of course most people here tonight come for the old classics and they don’t disappoint. ‘Molly’s lips’ gets the crowd bouncing along nicely and ‘Jesus doesn’t want me for his Sunbeam’ sends shivers down my spine.
The band really works hard tonight and it pays off as everyone in the room has smiles miles wide, both on and off stage. The sound is awesome and it is difficult not to get swept away with the excitement of it all. All too quickly they leave the stage but come back immediately with an disco version of Devine’s ‘You Think you’re a man’
I had the time of my life tonight and I don’t think I was the only one. Frances, you made an old man happy!
