Venue:
Thekla, Bristol
Date: 02/04/2017
Moonlandingz have had quite extensive coverage recently, mainly focussed around the scuzzier end of their stage antics. A band created to perform the role of a fictional band on someone else’s concept album – I found the original concept resistible enough not to pursue further. Likewise Fat White Family who provide some of the beef, or Slow Club who provide some of the more decorous elements. On reflection a psychotic(demonic?) glam rock band from the wrong side of Sheffield has to have something going for it? Some serious patronage too (Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon and others). And now we have an actual album (Top 10 definitely), and an actual sold-out tour, even on Sunday. Leading to less than 60 minutes or so of over refreshed mayhem. Oh and a fistful of glorious songs. An unholy mixture of Glitter Band, The Cramps, Baby Bird, early Human League and Uncle Lou Reed and all. Some bloke called Adrian appears to be the evil genius behind it all(aren’t they always) – who knows what dark secret the shades and beany are hiding? Go and see them (if you can get a ticket) if you want some raucous fun and don’t mind being seriously jostled.
PS Support band Goat Girl are worth another look too.
The audience:
Lively, over refreshed, over-excited. Big Jeff was one of the quieter ones.
It made me think..
2017 – quite a year!
I think this is the first time I’ve read anything about Moonlandingz without using the f-word – because they are fucking brilliant! Oh drat.
You’re a brave man staying at the front of that crowd last night. I retreated to the middle distance after being walloped on the back of the head by a full pint glass at the beginning of Sweet Saturn Mine. I can’t remember when I was last in a crowd that raucous, but it would certainly be many years ago.
They were tremendous, easily the filthiest, scuzziest band I’ve seen since the original line up of the Cramps. I absolutely love them.
I’ve often found myself checking my watch at gigs, as I find many bands play for too long. Not last night. They played for about 45 minutes, the shortest set I can remember by a headlining band. And all the better for it.
@rampantonion – Lively weren’t they/we? “I was shocked to find that was allowed”. Well I started out 1 back from the fence (first time I’ve seen that at Thekla) hence the photos, but allowed myself to be “eased” back a bit. Still great to be down there. Next time I might take my glasses off and stand my ground.
You must have been standing just in front of us at the beginning. I hadn’t seen that fence before either, but it was certainly needed last night.
PS to judge from my boots and hair this morning the mystery powders he was chucking around were mixture of coffee granules and bath salts. I wonder if it was real vodka?
Definitely instant coffee granules. I could taste it. I’m sure the vodka was real, he looked suitably refreshed. Still turned in a great performance, as did they all. Do you know why Rebecca Taylor left the stage early?
Dunno – maybe she wanted to catch Line of Duty? When she went it seem to start to bring the show to a close? Beauty and the Beast dynamic an’ that?
There may be clue in here somewhere