Live Review

The Lambrettas – Moho Live, Manchester

• 4th Apr 2010

Stepping into Manchester’s Moho Live to the sight of shaven heads, checked shirts and braces, it was apparent that nostalgia was high the agenda for many of the punters. Seemingly unaffected by line-up changes, The Lambrettas were far more than competent in their reproduction of choice cuts from their own back catalogue.

Crowd favourites such as Ford Cortina MkII, Da-a-a-ance and their version of Poison Ivy in particular made for a loyal following going home very happy. Having seemingly lost none of the energy that sparked their mod-revival success back in the ’80s, the four-piece rocketed through the set with the sort of verve which denotes a lasting belief in the movement.

Whilst often over-looked as being too derivative and always, to an extent, living in the shadow of The Jam, the band reminded us that they have both the songs and the live shows to stand up to scrutiny. Even without songwriter Jez Bird, who sadly passed away in 2008, The Labrettas were able to recreate an atmosphere it was hard not to get caught up in. Originating in Brighton, their strongest suit is perhaps their ability to pen pop gems such as the aforementioned Ford Cortina which if anything transcend the genre. To a certain extent, their devotion to all things mod has held them back, pushing them on occasion towards cliché. Without ever having the pioneering zeal of some of their contemporaries, they are in danger of being remembered as nothing more than ‘also-rans’, which would be a shame.

As passionate and committed as the new look Lambrettas were, in all honesty it was support act The Grand Old Dukes who stole the show. Clearly playing to a Sunday night audience eagerly anticipating the headliners, the Manchester band wasted no time in garnering attention.
Frontman Steve Noire immediately catches the eye with a narrative vocal-style reminiscent of Bad Seeds era Nick Cave.

With tracks such as the outstanding Let It Out, they have an awful lot to offer. From the blues-infused Blackspot to the highly contagious Running Out My Mind this is a band with ideas aplenty. Driven by the expansive grooves of guitarist Lez Paul Dennis and within the constraints of a half-hour set the group shifted through the gears effortlessly. Yet inspiration is hard to pinpoint.

Whilst the songcraft isn’t so far removed from the mainstream as to make them inaccessible, this is a group who know what they’re trying to do and indie by numbers it is not. With a nod to ’60s west coast vocal harmonies and an inclination towards the cohesive powers of the trumpet and the harmonica, they’re a difficult one to quantify.

Clearly not struggling to find their own identity they are musically assured in whichever direction they turn. Moreover, the sheer infectiousness of offerings such as Get Your Own Back provide a point of entry, demonstrating a delicate balance between minimalist structure and layered instrumentalism. There is also invention in abundance; showing dynamism without ever seeming indulgent. An exciting discovery.