OMD at the Roundhouse

This was the first of four gigs this week, and possibly it was the best.

It was also a nostalgia trip for me, OMD being the fist band I ever saw. Well we are all a lot older now, and this was a very middle-aged crowd. I went with one of my thirty-ish mates and he definitely brought the average age of the audience down. Anyone under 50 would do that.

Let me start by praising the venue. The roundhouse is great. Lots of space as its circular so you can usually walk easily round the outside even when full. The ironwork gives it plenty of character.

 The support act was a band called Tiny Magnetic Pets. Somewhat cruelly, but accurately, I suggested they wouldn't be out of place on a cruise ship. Electronic music, but very tame.

 OMD however were awesome. My mate who hadn't been that excited about seeing them beforehand endorsed my view of the band - a very entertaining evening with no weak songs, even though tracks from their new album were interlaced with their large back catalogue of standards. Lead singer Andy McCluskey is 58 now, but still dances with energy. Ok, he dances like a dad at a wedding, but he goes for it, much to the amusement of my companion. "Dance as if no one is watching" was his advice to the audience.

The whole set was perfect. And all delivered with a sense of humour and warmth. Everyone was amongst friends here.

Andy McCluskey

 At times Andy swapped with his co-founder Paul Humphreys as lead singer, first of all for Forever Live and Die. Was just a nice touch.

They finished on Electricity - their oldest and fastest song. Ageing limbs still managed one last frenetic bop. A fine evening.

The Horrors at Koko

I do like Koko. A weird, small venue with a somewhat louche ambience and decor. I was at this gig on my own, so arrived early and rather than take up my usual spot at the front I took a place on the first balcony - apart from the downstairs floor the theatre has a number of rapidly rising tiers.

  I also had a good view over all the gizmos.

 The opening act was a band called Baba Naga, although they never mentioned that, nor interacted with the audience at all. I had to search the internet afterwards for their name. I wanted to make sure I avoided the in the future. They were an awful modern version of a prog rock band whose lead singer's face never once appeared from behind a curtain of long hair.

Their performance could best be summed up by the young lady next to me who at the end spontaneously cried "Thank God that's over!" If you think that sounds bad, well all I can say is that you weren't there. It was worse than words can adequately describe.

 

Now I don't know what's wrong with the Horrors. Something must be as I couldn't get any of my mates to go and see them, and my gig circle is wide enough now that usually someone I know will like a band. And I think they are very good. They are possibly best described as a Goth band, and that's their look, which may put people off a bit. But their music isn't desperately goth, more mainstream indie rock. Lead singer Faris Badwan is no great looker so that probably doesn't help, although with enough dry ice and black hair one doesn't notice.

But this was really great show, fine songs from 5 albums they have behind them, including their latest V. As custom has it they opened with Hologram which starts the new album, completing their encore with in my view the best track off the album, Something to Remember Me By. And the light and laser show was better than one expects at such a small venue. All in all an enjoyable night, even if all on my own.

 A quick costume change at the interval into what looked like lab coats.