RAZORLIGHT are a band about which I am in two minds. On one hand I really like their music- simple yet catchy tunes with unsophisticated lyrics which anyone who's ever fallen in love, gone on a night out with friends, or ever felt sad can relate to.
On the other hand though I hate the fact Johnny Borrell-Razorlight's front man is such an arrogant, self righteous, cocky
man. Anyone would think that it was him that had personally invented pop music, and that the hundreds of fans that turn up to all their gigs were there only to worship and adore the greatness which is him.
I know I am not the first to say this, but having now seen them perform, I can totally understand why this criticism is so well deserved. Technically this band have all the makings of an amazing live experience. Their music sounds fantastic, the band work together well, producing a tight and well structured set full of all the songs that they know the crowd will love, including all their hit singles and B sides. But, (and this is a big but) Johnny Borrell somehow manages to make what should be a fantastic gig,
into something that by the end becomes irritating to watch.
At first things went well, Johnny strutted onto the stage dressed in pristine white clothing (washing powder adverts could have had a field day with him) and head visibly growing with the cheers from the crowd- but then again, who's head wouldn't? As the set progresses though, the gap between each song becomes
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longer and longer as Johnny faffed around, whispering to band mates, disappearing off stage and generally making any excuse not to sing. If this wasn't annoying enough, towards the end of every song, Johnny would stop singing and pause expectantly, waiting for the crowd to sing the lines for him- which they willingly obliged.
Then he would wait a little longer, listening to the screams and cheers from the audience, flick his hair behind him, and then carry on with the tune but slightly slower, and in a different key. Towards the end of the set it was getting clear to see that even the rest of the band were thinking that Johnny was being a little self indulgent
and the audience started getting restless- shouting at the group to hurry up and play another song.
As a result, although this group should be at the top of lists for bands to see, I don't think I could bring myself to go to another of their concerts I think I would get too annoyed, unless of course Johnny has a total personality change and becomes a bit more modest realising that he is only human after all. And what are the chances of that happening?
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