So here we are, not at the main ex-cinema upstairs but in the bar, and despite previous quips about sticky floors etc it looks pretty classy (or classic?). A low stage, the band doing their own roadying, (is this a word?) setting up the equipment and a minimal soundcheck, the dry ice a bit unnecessary, a smallish screen behind them and a very, very sparse audience. There were I believe 3 other acts on beforehand but I arrived after all of that.
Taking the stage, Ms Quinn looks every inch the rock chick, with blonde bangs and a very confident demeanour. The sound mix was absolutely excellent, not too loud for the very low roof but giving every instrument played a good hearing – well done the Soundmen.
Credit should also go to whoever did the back-projections, a crazy and sometimes disturbing mash, or mish, of vintage films (WW2, 60s and many more at dizzying pace) and morphed/collaged images. Betty is no expert on visual art but put on a proper back-projection this could majorly up the ante at ABCQ’s live shows.
A twin beard attack is the visual moniker (obviously not Ms Quinn) with some interesting hirsuteness onstage, but given Betty’s previous beard comments we will leave it right there. The band are very competent, relaxed and carry off this low key date with some aplomb and humour. They are simple and tight, with some of the electronics of previous recorded output not in evidence tonight, yet very sophisticated soundscapes are drawn and teased out through the songs. Bass, guitar, keyboards (sometime played at the same time as a genius one-handed trumpet solos on a couple of songs), tight drums at the back and Ms Quinn’s vocal delivery. She’s not exactly Maria Carey in the volume stakes but she hits the notes straight and with attitude, a strong combination of Debbie Harry (surely no bad thing), Shirley Manson and possibly Alison Goldfrapp. These comparisons are a bit unfair as I don’t think she’s got anyone in particular in mind to emulate, she’s been doing this long enough. She is also on the floor of the stage for one number but careful missus, you will ladder yer tights with that one if you’re not careful, and they are expensive as Betty well knows.
So, the songs. There is a back catalogue if you choose to investigate but in this set they pretty much did stuff from the March 10 album Sun Moon Stars (I meant to drop the Myspace or Amazon link here, however you are inclined, but you can all type, can’t you?). Betty was disappointed that some 2009 songs such as ‘Fluff Girl’ (personal favourite) were not included in the roughly 45 minute set, however ABCQ appear to want to move on and I can’t disagree, a stab at pop stardom is overdue. (‘Christmas Song’ was actually a very good Xmas single btw and slayed (sleighed, surely? – Ed) the festive competition, remember the Hue and Cry effort, but we won’t talk about that). ‘We Are Scum’, ‘O Jackie’, ‘DIY’; most of them (despite the imagery of history and war and body-morphism going on behind) are attitude-driven, defiant and damn sexy if I may say so (yes you can Betty for flip’s sake), they crave a wider audience and, for example, give Codeine Velvet Club a run for their money.
And the audience – well- where were they?
Not that well promoted I think, not part of a tour as far as I can see, and after the last gig at KTWWH which Betty couldn’t attend, this was a very disappointing turnout, barely 200 at the very most I reckon, including bar staff and family members, support acts staying on to watch etc. If this really is ABCQ’s stab at pop success (and ‘DIY’ is a current Myspace campaign), it’s not going very well. Louise and others have been doing this for quite some time (Betty remembers Hardbody at the Twa Tams in Perth in the 90s, very good they were too) and they have I believe had a number 1 in Serbia (is this a good thing, don’t know but the Serbs liked it) so where are the punters? In this period of almost production line female-fronted or singer-songwriter acts, so profuse one suspects that Phil Spector must be cloning them from prison, why are ABCQ not in the top 10? They do have it, so why not?
The finale involved Ms Quinn taking her mike off the stage and onto the floor while around 13 or 14 girls and a couple a guys (introduced I think as the “Powerpack Choir” but someone correct me if I’m wrong) filed in to do backing on the last couple of numbers. It appeared at one point that the people onstage would out-number the audience, never a sign of a good gig… ‘Running’ (I think) was upbeat but the last number (name not given, ‘Memories of the War’ I think, on the album I’m sure) was brooding and you could see it was anthemic but only in a bigger venue, and really they should have finished with an electro-belter, as I know they can.
Hope they do well on the festival season this year (here or abroad) but tonight they were fab – but who was there to know?
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