09.06.08

It’s not for the cock, It’s fo’ Jo’ Fo’

Posted in Flip, Gigs at 4:11 pm by Phil

Johnny Foreigner / Mae Shi @ DQ, Sheffield

Tonight sees the culmination of the tour between LA’s Mae Shi and an INFTC favourite, Birmingham trio, Johnny Foreigner. After releasing one of the best albums of the year “Hlllyh” the Mae Shi have been playing shows across the world for the last few months. This is the last show that they will play with Johnny Foreigner after a DrownedinSound sponsored tour of the UK.

Johnny Foreigner are on first, kicking off with “Champagne Girls…” with its feedback ridden guitar riffs, huge pop hooks and boy-girl vocals thrown in between shouts from both guitarist Alexei and bassist Kelly. At first seeming to be a mess it all blends together into a perfect pop song. Moving through the set each song is played with as much furore as the last.

What really stood out at tonight’s show was the musical talent that the band had. After going to see some bands that could hardly change between three chords, it was great to see a guitarist, such as Alexei, able to play his instrument well. With songs like “Yes! You Talk Too Fast”, where he finger taps his way through the intro, Alexei shows off his skill flawlessly and is still able to vocally perform.

As Johnny Foreigner’s set draws to a close it becomes apparent that they are going to be the future.

It’s pretty hard to describe how the Mae Shi sounds. So in their own words they sound like “…busted electronics, spazzier-than-fuck drums, crazy-ass boogie guitar, distorted caveman bass and throat-destroying vocals”. Another phrase that is often used to describe them is “fucking awesome”.

As everyone stands around waiting for the Mae Shi, one chord is played repeatedly. As everyone looks around trying to see where it is coming from, several voices around the crowd start to shout the line “I want almost everything”. This is the Mae Shi.

With the next song “Lamb and the Lion” the Mae Shi had the crowd on the edge of their metaphorical seats from the beginning. Moving seamlessly through each song without a pause for breath, the Mae Shi are by far the best live band I have seen this year. Spending more time in the crowd then on the stage, they bring a stool into the middle of the crowd, sit on it and begin playing “Book of Numbers”.

With each song played they get better and the crowd get more involved, three quarters of the way through the band pick up a huge white sheet and throw it over the audience. As this is going on, a member of Leeds band Slow Club gets on stage and starts to perform her version of the Mae Shi’s single “Run to Your Grave” before the Mae Shi take up their own instruments and take back their song. With the sheet still above the crowd’s heads, the audduence are pushed over the edge by the band and go into a frenzy.

As the Mae Shi finish with their best off the album “Young Marks” they leave the stage and the crowd are left begging for more; but I doubt the Mae Shi had the energy to go on.

I wrote this review a few months ago but haven’t been able to put it up on here till now. In this time, Johnny Foreigner have released their debut album “Waited Up Till It Was Light” and are still touring the UK with Dananananakroyd. The Mae Shi are back in the UK for two dates in October but will surely be touring here again soon.

You can check them out on myspace at

myspace.com/themaeshi

and

myspace.com/johnnyforeigner

Young Marks - The Mae Shi (mp3)

Run to Your Grave - Slow Club (Mae Shi Cover) (mp3)

Hennings Favourite - Johnny Foreigner (mp3)

Ninki Vs. Dingle - Johnny Foreigner (mp3)

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