OK, first things first. I'm sure SFG would be the first to admit that they're not the best musicians in the world, but they have 2 great assets that make them a fabulous band to see live:
1) They know how to create a perfect pop song
2) They are a group of really lovely, down to earth guys who have a huge amount of fun performing
Nearly 2 years after their debut album hit the number 1 spot, SFG were embarking on the firth of 3 Christmas parties for their Wolfcub fans. About 500 were lucky enough to have tickets for the Tabernacle, which is a bit like a church hall but in a good way, and an hour before the gig was due to start they were treated to the band themselves mingling and bringing round mince pies, chatting and happily posing for photos. The band always seem slightly bemused by their success and this was just one of the many ways they like to say thank you to their fan base.
When the band finally got on to a stage decked with Christmas decorations it felt a bit like you were down the local pub and some of your mates had decided to stand up and make some music. Except that SFG's musical repertoire includes such gems as 'She's So Lovely', 'I Wish I Was James Bond', and 'Keep On Walking'. It's impossible not to sing and dance along, and the whole occasion seemed quite quite joyous.
SFG also used the opportunity to road test some of their new tracks from the second album, Everybody Wants To Be On TV, which is out March 22nd next year. There was something familiar about the new songs - and not in a bad ripped-off-from-someone-else way. They have more of a so-catchy-that-you're-singing-along-halfway-through-the-first-chorus sort of feel. 'Posh Girls' was the standout track for me, and with this new material it looks like album number 2 is definitely one to watch out for.
SFG's second album, Everybody Wants To Be On TV, is out 22/03/2010
Wednesday 30 December 2009
Das Pop @ O2 Islington Academy, 26th November 2009
The best thing to come out of Belgium since Tintin
The O2 Academy in Islington felt disappointingly empty when Das Pop took to the stage last night. However, the band soon filled the stage with their eclectic mix of impossible-to-stay-still-to beats, fantastic English and dungarees. Oh, and fun – the band are a huge amount of fun to experience.
Das Pop are a ¾ Belgian, ¼ New Zeeland pop band that have been making music since in some form or another since about 1998. Last year they supported Alphabeat and The Feeling on their UK tours. Their current headline tour of the UK was cut back so this and Glasgow were pretty much the only dates left.
The band thundered on to the stage with a powerful version of Fool For Love. As a non-native English speaker, lead singer Bent Van Looy’s lyrics are very precise and interesting in the same way that Abba managed. There aren’t many songs around today that include words like ‘reverberate’, which just goes to show the fact that the British are woeful at languages compared to the other European countries – even our own language...
Anyway, the set list was predominantly drawn from their 3rd album, the eponymously titles Das Pop, which was produced by fellow Belgians Soulwax and is generally great (and available from Amazon here).
As well as the lyrics, one of the things that seems to characterise an upbeat Das Pop song are really interesting beats that I personally find it very difficult to stay still to, All of the guys in the band seem to be accomplished musicians, and this is clear with the quality of the performance – it was really tight and sounded amazing.
So, despite the poor lighting that Bent seems to be constantly adjusting himself and made for some really poor photographic opportunities, Das Pop shone. Stand out tracks were Underground, The Last Thing, and a rather amazing cover version of Frank Sinatra’s Very Good Year.
If Dad Pop come back to these shores any time soon I would really urge you to catch a performance – I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
Das Pop’s third album, Das Pop, is out now
The O2 Academy in Islington felt disappointingly empty when Das Pop took to the stage last night. However, the band soon filled the stage with their eclectic mix of impossible-to-stay-still-to beats, fantastic English and dungarees. Oh, and fun – the band are a huge amount of fun to experience.
Das Pop are a ¾ Belgian, ¼ New Zeeland pop band that have been making music since in some form or another since about 1998. Last year they supported Alphabeat and The Feeling on their UK tours. Their current headline tour of the UK was cut back so this and Glasgow were pretty much the only dates left.
The band thundered on to the stage with a powerful version of Fool For Love. As a non-native English speaker, lead singer Bent Van Looy’s lyrics are very precise and interesting in the same way that Abba managed. There aren’t many songs around today that include words like ‘reverberate’, which just goes to show the fact that the British are woeful at languages compared to the other European countries – even our own language...
Anyway, the set list was predominantly drawn from their 3rd album, the eponymously titles Das Pop, which was produced by fellow Belgians Soulwax and is generally great (and available from Amazon here).
As well as the lyrics, one of the things that seems to characterise an upbeat Das Pop song are really interesting beats that I personally find it very difficult to stay still to, All of the guys in the band seem to be accomplished musicians, and this is clear with the quality of the performance – it was really tight and sounded amazing.
So, despite the poor lighting that Bent seems to be constantly adjusting himself and made for some really poor photographic opportunities, Das Pop shone. Stand out tracks were Underground, The Last Thing, and a rather amazing cover version of Frank Sinatra’s Very Good Year.
If Dad Pop come back to these shores any time soon I would really urge you to catch a performance – I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
Das Pop’s third album, Das Pop, is out now
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