A View From The Back Of The Room: Electric Six (Live Review By Paul)

Electric Six, Jacs, Aberdare and The Fleece, Bristol

It was only March when Detroit’s magnificent Electric Six (9) last played the UK and we were on hand at The Globe to witness another masterclass. A further UK tour which spans the tail end of August and early September has included some of the more interesting locations across the country and that must include the gig at Jacs, Aberdare. I rarely go North of the Wall, so a trip into the centre of bandit country was always going to be a challenge. Deciding to arrive at we thought was a reasonably late time, we were instead forced to endure the closing moments of first support band Head Noise followed by all local support John Mouse, who were dreadful. Disappointingly, we were stuck quite far back, and as a result struggled to hear and see Electric Six due to the constant chatter around us from the many people who had clearly no intention of watching the band. Oh, until Gay Bar arrived, at which point out came the camera phone, the jumping and the singing started and then promptly finished once the song concluded. With the chatter starting up once again, and safe in the knowledge that we’d have a far better time at The Fleece, we cut our losses early and headed home.

Three days later and a much better experience in Bristol, where a knowledgeable and much more engaged crowd witnessed another stunning show from Dick Valentine and co. We’d played it safer and got a position stage right which allowed us space in the sold-out venue but also a much better vantage point. We endured the ironic 80s offerings of Pretty Little Enemy, who one friend described as “utter shit” before it was time for the main event. Opening with Rock ‘n’ Roll Evacuation, Electric Six powered through a set list that relied heavily on their 2003 debut Fire, but liberally sprinkled a selection of songs from other albums, including a trio from their most recent release How Dare You!

It’s a challenge to continually review Electric Six in the live but not to watch them, such is their quality and consistency. With Valentine’s delivery deliciously dry, laced with humour and with the band such perfect musicians, the set flew by with clockwork precision. As we rolled into Dance Epidemic and I Buy The Drugs, the venue was rocking ferociously, with some small but full-on mosh pitting taking place at the front of the stage. Dance Commander and the traditional Show Stopper, where all the band change places, concluded a fabulous evening that more than made up for the disappointment a few days earlier (nothing to do with the band). If you’ve not seen Electric Six, then make sure you get to their inevitable next UK tour. But, please, listen to more than just Gay Bar, because this band has much more to offer than a song which really isn’t representative of their sound.