Most tenth birthday parties involve lashings of fizzy drinks and heaps of jelly and ice cream. Saturday’s (semi)-star studded celebration of achingly hip indie outfit Moshi Moshi at London’s newest super-venue Matter, opted instead for the sweet delights of Kate Nash and Florence & The Machine (pictured), coupled with the fizzing dance pop of Hot Chip.
Kate Nash took to the stage in the smaller second room early in the night and despite a national tour and numerous festival appearances under her belt appeared as nervous as ever. Barely interacting with the crowd besides some muttered thanks, her slight songs were warmly welcomed but far from inspiring.
Meanwhile, American noiseniks The Mae Shi delivered a storming set in the main room with huge coloured parachute silks descending on the crowd during their third song. With vocals that oscillate between soaring harmonies and primal grunts, the effect was like watching a traditional punk band play in a hall of mirrors.
Back in room two, indie trio The Wave Pictures gained new converts with their Jarvis Cocker-esque pop-vignettes (“the girl from Baker’s Oven, holding back your hair”) and a live show that has far more energy than their ramshackle recorded efforts. The high point of the set came with the drummer stepping forward to sing the plaintive Now You’re Pregnant (“Johnny Cash died today/and you say lovely things to lovely other people”).
Florence & The Machine’s titular frontwoman Florence Welch stalked the main stage like a demonic force of nature unleashing a bruisingly bluesy voice. After a summer of festival appearances, Welch and her band are in great form, delivering the Ludes cover Girl With One Eye with brooding menace and shattering the single Kiss With A Fist. The one problem is a lack of new material, with the set remaining the same as it has all summer.
All singing, all tap dancing indie-folk carnival act Tilly & The Wall are far more compelling live than on record with their bright costumes and constant dancing making up for a slight paucity of songs. Ending with a cover of Erasure’s enduring pop classic A Little Respect, they left the room dancing and ready for Hot Chip.
The electro-pop chart botherers hit the stage with front man Alexis Taylor dressed in a white suit that made him look like a cross between 'the man from Del Monte' and a Bond villain. As well as hits like Ready For The Floor and One Pure Thought, the band pulled out an old favourite Down With Prince from their 2004 debut Coming On Strong with Joe Goddard noting: “Nobody’ll know this one.”
Perhaps conscious that there might have been more than a little truth in his statement, the group then launched straight into arguably their biggest hit Over And Over that saw the stage besieged by stage invaders.
Mic Wright
11:56 AM | 20/10/2008
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