This was the headlining band for tonight. I thought I was in for a rocking evening. I was in for a boring shock.
EL PRESIDENTE may have a weird, adverse background, but I just don't get their "art rock" status that or the hype that has swarmed around them like a particularly pissed-off hornet's nest. Reminds me of the same situation that Fisherspooner were in when they released "Emerge": All the hype but no end product, another case of "all mouth 'n' no trousers".
This is a 5 piece Glaswegian Scissor Sisters-esque get up. Comparisons to the SS's are down to the camp feel of the band, but at least the SS's put on a half interesting show. I feel El Presidente sound like a cross between Top Loader and Robbie Williams, with a little bit of T Rex rip off in there for good measure. And that's hardly an enticing recipe, is it?
The first words that come to mind are 'boring, dull and dross'. I have done underwater farts that have been more entertaining. Saying that, El Presidente will be "media darlings" to some, i.e. people who think it's cool to like camp theme bands, not for the music or anything, more for the scene, or just being seen at this event. Whiffs of complete Eau de Dogshite to me.
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Even the lead singer Dante Gizzi/Edmund Blackadder look-alike owns his own Bistro. Well I reckon this is a case of "mama" in the kitchen saying "go on my boy, you got a great voice" just like your gran/mum would say to you if you were going in for karaoke or the X Factor. The rest of the band are Dawn Zhu on drums, Laura Marks on keyboards/ backing vocals - both of whom up the pretty quotient - plus Johnny McGlynn on guitar and Thomas McNiece on bass.
It's not that the musicians themselves are rubbish as such, it's just the end result doesn't begin to transcend the sum of the parts. Tonight was all about coolness, and being part of a scene, a lot of "we must's" and self importance. Certain music journalists spring to mind, they know who they are. Never mind, onwards and upwards. No cool brigade or fashion police will dictate to me.
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