The King Blues, Milk Kan + Mouthwash @ Camden Barfly 5/2/08 (live review)
Fresh from their residency sell-out nights in Camden’s Purple Turtle, the King Blues were the hosts du jour again, this time up the road in the Barfly supported by Milk Kan and Mouthwash.
The first band bounding onto the stage were Mouthwash. Claiming roots in grime, ska and happy hardcore I was (understandably, I think) a tad apprehensive. My thoughts of “Why God, WHY?!” were happily replaced by stifled giggles and involuntary toe-tappings. More nu-metal/ska than happy hardcore or *shudder* grime and not in the least bit offensive, I couldn’t help thinking that it was melodic enough to encourage a bit of dad-dancing from dad and pop enough to charm your baby sister. I doubt I’m winning any favours from the fake Burberry-attired half-arsed mini-pit at the front, but I reckon I’ll live... Lyrically profound they aint, but they’re fun enough to keep your head bobbing for half an hour and entertain you until the headliners come on…At one point they announced a cover was on its way and struck up the beginnings of Girls Aloud’s ‘Love Machine’ - sadly they retracted this and instead did a bland and predictable cover of UB40.
Second up were Milk Kan. I’d manage to escape the fart-infused throng in the name of all that is holy (booze, a hurried butty and little white flaming sticks of joy), and on my return I was gutted to discover I’d missed most of Milk Kan. You might’ve heard their name knocking about London town (Steve Lamaq’s a fan). They’ve got a bit of a buzz about them; not least for their quirky charm, energy and inventive use of samples. Their duet with Dolly Parton in MK, for example, is a bit special (proper special, not just ‘my mum says I’m special’). Think Squeeze meets Ian Dury (in a barn dance…) with a touch of UK hip-hop. Milk Kan’s cockney wit and jaunty blue grass/doo-wop mishmash will have you dancing off your winter blues and grinning all the way through to the festival season. Talking of blues….
I first heard the King Blues single ‘Mr Musicman’ on the dancefloor of a soho rock club. After a brief stalk on myspace I went to a gig in the Purple Turtle which blew my musical socks off. Finally, a band with some stage presence! And thank fuck for that! For them, I mean, with the way the industry’s going it’s all about the live show (or so I’m told). Kicking off with front-man Itch Fox (ukulele/mouth-organ/vocalist), spraying their name across a white sheet at the back of the stage; the atmosphere’s electric. The crowd’s eager and the band moves vigorously through blends of reggae, dub, punk, ska and carnival frenzy. Itch sings politically-conscious lyrics like “going to war to prevent war/ is the stupidest thing I ever heard”, while balloons wearing the dismembered faces of David Cameron and Gordon Brown dance grimly along. They are the sort of band you wish you’d discovered – magnetic, raw and unpretentious, the King Blues are born entertainers. Ending in a stage invasion to rival Iggy’s at Glasto 07, and it’s all over. Good times.
By Tamsin McLarty
www.myspace.com/thekingblues
www.myspace.com/milkthekan
www.myspace.com/mouthwash
The first band bounding onto the stage were Mouthwash. Claiming roots in grime, ska and happy hardcore I was (understandably, I think) a tad apprehensive. My thoughts of “Why God, WHY?!” were happily replaced by stifled giggles and involuntary toe-tappings. More nu-metal/ska than happy hardcore or *shudder* grime and not in the least bit offensive, I couldn’t help thinking that it was melodic enough to encourage a bit of dad-dancing from dad and pop enough to charm your baby sister. I doubt I’m winning any favours from the fake Burberry-attired half-arsed mini-pit at the front, but I reckon I’ll live... Lyrically profound they aint, but they’re fun enough to keep your head bobbing for half an hour and entertain you until the headliners come on…At one point they announced a cover was on its way and struck up the beginnings of Girls Aloud’s ‘Love Machine’ - sadly they retracted this and instead did a bland and predictable cover of UB40.
Second up were Milk Kan. I’d manage to escape the fart-infused throng in the name of all that is holy (booze, a hurried butty and little white flaming sticks of joy), and on my return I was gutted to discover I’d missed most of Milk Kan. You might’ve heard their name knocking about London town (Steve Lamaq’s a fan). They’ve got a bit of a buzz about them; not least for their quirky charm, energy and inventive use of samples. Their duet with Dolly Parton in MK, for example, is a bit special (proper special, not just ‘my mum says I’m special’). Think Squeeze meets Ian Dury (in a barn dance…) with a touch of UK hip-hop. Milk Kan’s cockney wit and jaunty blue grass/doo-wop mishmash will have you dancing off your winter blues and grinning all the way through to the festival season. Talking of blues….
I first heard the King Blues single ‘Mr Musicman’ on the dancefloor of a soho rock club. After a brief stalk on myspace I went to a gig in the Purple Turtle which blew my musical socks off. Finally, a band with some stage presence! And thank fuck for that! For them, I mean, with the way the industry’s going it’s all about the live show (or so I’m told). Kicking off with front-man Itch Fox (ukulele/mouth-organ/vocalist), spraying their name across a white sheet at the back of the stage; the atmosphere’s electric. The crowd’s eager and the band moves vigorously through blends of reggae, dub, punk, ska and carnival frenzy. Itch sings politically-conscious lyrics like “going to war to prevent war/ is the stupidest thing I ever heard”, while balloons wearing the dismembered faces of David Cameron and Gordon Brown dance grimly along. They are the sort of band you wish you’d discovered – magnetic, raw and unpretentious, the King Blues are born entertainers. Ending in a stage invasion to rival Iggy’s at Glasto 07, and it’s all over. Good times.
By Tamsin McLarty
www.myspace.com/thekingblues
www.myspace.com/milkthekan
www.myspace.com/mouthwash
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