The Leicester Square Theatre in London is where people have gathered from near and far tonight. We're here to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the black and red groove machine that is The URBAN VOODOO MACHINE. Who would have thought that ten years could fly by so quickly, but as Paul-Ronney Angel says “So, it’s been ten years, I can’t remember what happened!”
Tonight is a special show, with the Urban Voodoo Machine playing two sets to the sell out crowd. Book-ending the first set are excellent supports from comedian and impressionist Anil Desai who can ape Bobby De Niro’s pissed off expression perfectly. Miss Miranda follows the first set with some excellent burlesque cabaret.
The sound quality at the venue is some of the best I’ve ever heard and The Urban Voodoo Machine do not disappoint. From the opening introduction by Lucifire dressed in a skin-tight black cat suit, part MC part Emma Peel, the band storm the stage. The opening ‘(Theme From) The Urban Voodoo Machine’ goes straight into a savage version of ‘Down In A Hole’. Usually this has been a set closer, but the band tear into the song giving it an edge that surpasses every other time I’ve heard it.
The band are clearly in a celebratory mood, encouraging audience participation on ‘Orphan’s Lament’, and friends old and new assist in performing, with Barney Hollington joining the band for tracks like ‘The Real Criminals’ and ‘No Bail Blues’. The band’s sound is bolstered by the addition of Mark Gilligan on clarinet, and during the second set, an electric bass player, Marc, who plays perfectly along with The Reverend on stand up bass on ‘Killer Sound’, creating something that is truly a killer sound.
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As well as older tracks like ‘Plenty More Room’ which has appeared on the recently released ‘Rare Gumbo’ album, there are newer tracks, such as ‘Loretta’s Revenge’, a dark tale of retribution that receives its first live airing tonight.
As always, the band put 100% into the show, and this is reflected when Paul-Ronney Angel wrings out his soaking bandana at the end of the first set. This may be the reason for the band’s complete change of clothes by the second set.
This gig that was so good it’ll be talked about for a long time to come, and those that were there will consider themselves fortunate to see the band pulling out all the stops and playing the gig of their lives. With this gig, they raised the bar higher than ever before, and proved that they just keep on getting better and better. With a few more gigs and a Glastonbury slot lined up over summer catch them while you can. Bands of this calibe don’t hit town that often. Definitely gig of the year.
The Urban Voodoo Machine online
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