The Long Blondes - Live at Mean Fiddler

The Long Blondes – Mean Fiddler, London, Tuesday 17^th October, 2006
Chris George

Some things defy logic. How can anyone genuinely believe in Scientology? Who actually likes Towers of London except for pretentious journo types? How is it possible that Kate Jackson looks good in tight silver trousers? It makes no sense, but there you have it; the Long Blondes’ leading lady stands on the stage at Mean Fiddler with the band behind her, grinning with the confidence of a woman who knows that most of the guys in the audience would fall head over heels in love with her with a wink and a flick of her hair. She knows she’s part of one of Britain’s best indie bands; she knows they’re cool as fuck; she knows they put on a damn good show and that this crowd are going to adore it.

The Long Blondes sashay from song to song, confident and engaging. Long-standing fan favourites like “Giddy Stratospheres,” “Separated by Motorways” and latest single “Once and Never Again” get a rapturous response with the crowd dancing and singing along at the top of their lungs, bless ‘em. Most of their set is from their forthcoming album, “Someone to Drive You Home”; a record that skips between heartbreak and upbeat dance-floor gems and this gig’s a fantastic showcase for the record to come. The fans aren’t put off by tracks they’re not familiar with – the melancholy duet of the bitter “You Could Have Both” mesmerises; the paranoia of “In the Company of Women” enthrals. The audience can’t sing along but they can still dance, dammit. It’s that level of pretentiousness which gets people looking as bleeding-edge elegant as they possibly can (not that they tried, mind) without being too “cool” to actually have a good time.

With the Long Blondes, what you hear on your stereo is pretty much what you hear from the stage: they belt their set out with gusto, but they’re not significantly punchier live. Even so, they’re a bloody exciting live band and have a fantastic, very genuine rapport with the audience. The Long Blondes’ fantastic songs and effortless charisma transforms the nicely grotty Mean Fiddler into a charity-shop-chic indie disco, and there aren’t many bands who can do that.