Tonight's gig is part of Alan McGee's Death Disco night. True to the reputation of this part of West London the crowd tonight are the beautiful people. The tiny club is awash with Libertines style jackets and perfect ‘indie’ haircuts. This feeling is only increased by notices around the venue informing us that we are being filmed for ‘What Sadie did Next’ a documentary about Sadie Frost and, one can only assume, her brave stand in the face of the terrible adversity of being rich and famous even though no ones entirely sure what for. Just in case you do miss this piece of television gold it would appear that what Sadie did next was to go Notting Hill Arts Club, air kiss several people, make sure she was filmed watching the band for one song, then fuck off back stage until she was sure they were gone. Come the glorious revolution she will be one of the first against the wall.
This, unfortunately, is the price you pay for ‘alternative’ music becoming fashionable. Obviously Alan McGee's pedigree is unquestioned but there is a section of the crowd tonight you wish would piss off back to shite dance music and over priced clubs. Particularly as Urban Voodoo Machine are a fantastic band who deserve better than half the crowd ignoring them.
The first thing you notice as UVM (as they will be known from this point in) take the stage is how damn cool they are. Singer, Paul Ronny-Angel, is dapper in pinstripe suit, trilby, skinhead and huge side burns. The rest of the band are no shirkers either as they line up behind stand up bass, violin, drums, guitar and gong (yes, gong). It is obvious from the off that this is no ordinary band as they rip into a whiplash instrumental that wouldn’t sound out of place at a tequila fuelled fiesta. ‘The Real Criminals’ follows and is introduced by Paul as ‘a song about justice, or rather the lack of it’. It is difficult to decipher lyrics tonight but the intention is obvious from the snarling faces. Third song in appears to be called ‘You Got me by the Balls’ and is another stormer, featuring virtuoso violin and that unique stand up bass sound.
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As they slow things down, giving us all a chance to catch our breath, I’m left trying to pin down their various influences. UVM are not a band you can easily fit into convenient labels and tonight, at various points of the evening, you can hear Nick Cave (with and without the Birthday Party), the Pogues, the Clash, Gallon Drunk, Mexican influences, the blues (especially in some serious harmonica action), 50’s rock and roll and a million other disparate musical forms. At one point they give us their version of the Prodigys ‘Breathe’ which managed to rival the original for ferocity and at another juncture we’re treated to the theme tune from Pulp Fiction ("Misirlou" – Dick Dale). Finish this all off with the ‘tequila’ song and you’re left with many smiling faces and the first signs of dancing (they’ll mess their hair up if they’re not careful).
UVM were stunning tonight and, if there is any justice in the world, will be blessed with at least a huge cult following. They have that ‘last gang in town’ feel about them combined with the ‘don’t fuck with us’ attitude encapsulated by the Clash at their height. Musically they manage to simultaneously be one of the best party bands you’ll ever see and performers of some of the most sinister songs you’ll ever hear. What more do you want?
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