THE LIKE look just like (a very young version of) Veruca Salt, but minus the attitude. Having previously supported cheery popsters Maroon 5, I’d like to imagine these ladies whipping their proverbials, but they probably didn’t. Anyway, given their indie-cool status I reckon this is something they would rather sweep beneath the carpet.
Anyhow, there they were in all their panda-eyed, semi-emaciated glory. On came the young ladies, and after an unreasonable time spent tuning their instruments (have they not heard of roadies or sound-checks?) they flitted on and off the stage like butterflies, waving and giggling at the audience. Cute.
Finally they pouted their way onto the stage, and gave us a set ram-packed with college rock befitting of the ‘OC’ or ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, except the audience was full of podgy, bespectacled students (and specky, grumpy reviewers), not lithe, tanned All-American Americans with perfect teeth. Not that I saw anyone with Stone Henge poking out of their faces, but you get my drift.
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Having said that, the enigmatic Z Berg’s vocals are stunning, and she is a great front woman, you can see where the charisma lies in this band, and who wears the trousers. The other two, as good musicians as they were, were a bit Barbie-dollish. The highlight of their set was when they played their current single ‘June Gloom’, which is bouncy, and has the right amount of musical grungy down-in-the-dumps references - and it’s impossible to get morose when you have the bassist strutting around in hot pants.
However, most of their set lacked any sort of edge, and despite their obvious talent, they’re simply not the Grrl’s they’re made out to be. They deliver on the unthreatening, good, clean wholesome fun side - but if it’s L7 you’re after then look elsewhere.
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