In the Freedom Studio with HTRK.
This was a free gig as apparently whoever the
Corporate sponsors where believed we deserved to
see Alan Vega for free and who are we to argue.
This gig took place in the Freedom Studio which
is one of the spaces in the Undercroft of the
Roundhouse and is a smallish room.
First band on HTRK were annoying in the extreme
especially the singer a woman who spent almost
the whole set with a look of blank indifference
on her face and as well as singing she hit a floor
tom drum with a maraca while the two blokes in
the band played bass and guitar and the guitar
player also hit the buttons on the effects laden
drum machine thingy, they were awful and annoying
a load of old noise!!
By the second song we were taking the piss out of the singers drumming
ability and asking how many hours a day it took
her to learn her part, they reminded me of Gang
Gang Dance and were almost as bad as them too, we
escaped to the bar about two thirds of the way
through there set it was awful!
Then it was time for Alan Vega who is promoting
his new solo lp The Knife I think, but didn’t have any to sell with
him! He was backed by his wife Liz Lamere who was
playing a table of effects and sample triggers
and some sort of electronic theremin thingy to
manipulate the walls of sound and squalls of
noise coming at us while Alan ranted and raved
and proved how dangerous he still is by smoking a
cigarette in the non-smoking venue, he even had a
bouncer try to stop him, who ended up being
ranted at for his lack of freedom in the Freedom
studio. The only song I recognised was New
Raceion but it didn’t matter this was a great set
and he even got his young son up for a couple of
number’s on Harmonica and backing vocals, damn I
wonder what the kid will have to do to rebel
against a dad like Alan Vega, but as he is only
about 7 at the moment that is a ways off as yet.
Still judging by the form Mr Vega is in the new
album will be a must find purchase.
Oh and thanks to whoever sponsored the gig so we
could all get in for free to see Alan Vega.
simonovitch 