Tag Archives: Gig review

Global Citizen at Club Reptile (The Minories, Tower Hill) Saturday 8th May 2010

Posted by missashjade on

Flyer for Global Citizen at Club Reptile 8th May

Flyer for Global Citizen at Club Reptile

Reptile is an unusual club; it has a “strictly no EBM” policy. “Anyone found in possession of glow sticks will be prosecuted” claims their website. What they do play is Industrial, Electro, Metal, Goth and Punk.

It’s here that Global Citizen are playing. I last saw them perform at 2009′s Dark Mills Free festival where I remember them as standing out from the lineup. The London based Electro-Industrial band have decided to do a special short preview show of their brand new material.

Singer Richard Mills stands on a makeshift platform stage to perform. On his face is a black, mask-like eye stripe with peaks and troughs that make it look almost like sound waves. Its a distinctive and unsettling look and although Global Citizen‘s music is perhaps not quite as original as Richard Mills’ makeup, the unsettling part definitionally applies to the bands sound. Behind him Vade Retro and Callum Gray (aka DJ Jo The Waiter) play repeating post-apocalyptic electro rhythms on keyboards.

They open with “Kimochihi II”. Singer Rich Mills has a fantastic bass melancholic voice, reminiscent of classic Gothic vocalists such as Sisters of Mercy‘s Andrew Eldritch or original Fields of Nephillim frontman Carl McCory. His voice is flawless throughout and sings with obvious passion. The next songs are “Broken Doll” and “Early Morning Star” followed by the slow track “New” which makes for a good chill-out tune. The song “Don’t Make it Slow” is next which, as the name suggests not nearly as slow as the previous song “New” (funny that…)

The penultimate song – “Things” is probably my favourite track they perform. Despite the somewhat uninspired lyrics of “I make things difficult for myself” repeated over and over, it does have the most catchy rhythms and danceable beat of all the songs performed. The anti-monarchy anthem “Majesty” is Global Citizen‘s finale and leans more towards post-punk than the rest of their set.

Global Citizen‘s short set is polished but does somewhat lack interaction between performers and the small, supportive crowd.

Unfortunately I forgot my camera before the gig but I asked Bobbie Bajwa who has very kindly said that I may use her great pictures on my blog. Please visit Bobbie’s site – Chameleonart.

Vade Retro, Richard Mills and Callum Gray perform as Global Citizen taken by Bobbie Bajwa

Vade Retro, Richard Mills and Callum Gray perform as Global Citizen taken by Bobbie Bajwa

Global Citizen taken by Bobbie Bajwa

Global Citizen taken by Bobbie Bajwa

Global Citizen performing to the audience taken by Bobbie Bajwa

Global Citizen performing to the audience taken by Bobbie Bajwa

You can buy Global Citizens 2009 album “Master Stroke” here or from the missjade’s alternative music & culture shop

Rating: 4/5

Angelspit at The Electrowerkz (Slimelight)

Posted by missashjade on

DestroyX (Amelia Arsenic) and Zoog of Angelspit

DestroyX (Amelia Arsenic) and Zoog of Angelspit

DestroyX (Amelia Arsenic) and Zoog of Angelspit

DestroyX (Amelia Arsenic) and Zoog of Angelspit

Whereas many countries of Europe and the USA have produced long lists of Alternative and Gothic bands, Australia is not usually the country of origin for Alternative Music. Our friends down-under can however pride themselves as being the origin Angelspit; of one of the most exciting and innovative EBM bands in many years. On 17th April 2010 they performed their second ever gig in London at The Electrowekz in Islington’s long running Goth and Alternative club night: Slimelight

Angelspit members DestroyX (aka Amelia Arsenic) and Zoog are a cyber vision in red and black latex and a mohawk of synthetic hair extensions. Their performance is primarily vocal with both members predominantly speak-singing their lyrics mostly at the same time, something close to a kind of Cyber-Goth-Rap. They also periodically go over to modulation machines and vocoders to change he sounds of the tracks. The stage is set with light rods that change colour with the performance which also adds to the cyber visuals of the performance. The crowed are very enthusiastic, beating their fists in the air along with the music, particularly during “Fuck the Revolution”.

Their songs are full of macabre, scathing yet humorous takes on modern day issues such as the size zero fad diet culture of the mainstream in “Skinny Little Bitch” and young girls who grow up too quickly and then attract paedophillic attention in “Girl Poison”. In fact even “100%”, arguably the bands biggest hit, has overtones cannibalism, opposition to organised religion and televised brainwashing keeping people in their place. It seems that almost no taboo subject matter is off limits to Angelspit. It’s all very heavy, angry stuff but with a great beat – perfectly designed to appeal to people who see themselves as outcasts: the gothic and alternative community.

By the end of the performance, everyone on stage and in the audience has had a great time and a friend of mine who had had a particularly bad week mentioned that she had “totally needed a gig like that”. The raw energy of the band really allow you to get out all anger and frustration. Zoog ends the gig by saying “We love you London – you invented punk, you invented goth!” London may well have invented it, but the Aussies of Angelspit have continued in it’s great tradition.

Angelspit’s newest release “Hideous and Perfect” is available now at Amazon and this, along with their back catalogue is available at MissJade’s alternative music & culture shop.

You can also visit Amelia Arsenic‘s own blog: destroyx.com

Angelspit Performing “Skinny Little Bitch” at Slimelight

Rating 5/5

After the gig I had the pleasure and privilege to get a picture with the beautiful and sexy DestroyX. Here’s me with Amelia Arsenic:

Missjade (Ashleigh Jade) with DestroyX (Amelia Arsenic)

Missjade (Ashleigh Jade) with DestroyX (Amelia Arsenic)