Live Review

Ghost In Mirrors – Barfly, London

• 15th Apr 2009

The Barfly is impressively full for a Thursday night as openers Doll and the Kicks, of soon-to-support-Morrissey fame, impress with a strong set of exciting indie numbers with big choruses, they’re a promising package. Once the Kicks leave the stage the crowd gradually begins to diminish, though co-supports Spiked and Jukebox Vandals play enjoyable sets that justify their places on the bill, both full of bouncy punky numbers, inspiring some movement on the floor.

Headliners Ghost in Mirrors take the stage and immediately captivate courtesy of frontlady France’s brooding stage presence. With a metally sound that’s a departure from anything else we’ve heard tonight, Ghosts boast great atmospheric riffage and a heavy rhythm section, over which France soars with beautiful moody vocals. They finish with Across the Seas and Oceans, my personal favourite, and bringing to mind Bjork having jamming with the Deftones, it merits enthused headbanging from the now intimate crowd.

Though the shrinking turnout was a disappointment, the headliners gave it everything in a high-energy performance and surely will be seen rocking bigger audiences at bigger venues before too long.