Live Review

Imelda May – The Forum, Kentish Town

• 11th Oct 2010

Imelda Sparks Mayhem

To the outward observer you might think Imelda May is somehow jumping on the Mad Men Zeitgeist with her perfect coiffure and retro glamour puss demeanour. But the girl from Dublin has been doing it a lot longer than this craze.

Since the tender age of 16 she’s been grafting in pubs and clubs so fame and acclaim has not come easy to her. Fast forward 20 years and here we are at a packed out Forum in Kentish Town brimming with quiffed and tattooed rockabilly enthusiasts eagerly awaiting some serious rock n roll. The age demographic is higher than the average London gig but the there’s no restraining this mob’s mojo.

An impressive personalised stage set and a plethora of TV cameras, give some indication that this is a high profile gig with major label backing.

Resplendent in a yellow wiggle dresses and a perfect peroxide quiff, she perfected her style long before it became fashionable to dress in a late 50’s pastiche. Her imitators could learn a thing or too.

To say she gives her all for every song does not really do her justice, she’s a screamin’ and a hollerin’ at every opportunity, perfectly in tune of course. How she does this night after night is a wonder.

‘Kentish Town West’ from her new album ‘Mayhem’ was introduced with particular nostalgia as she used to live just down the road, however with an audience baying for rock n roll blood they lacked the patience to shut up and listen to the slower quieter songs which was a shame.

Plenty of new material is included in the set, but it lacks the immediacy and raw edge of first album ‘Love Tattoo’. This is reinforced when the biggest audience response of the night coming from ‘Johnny Got A Boom Boom’ the best known single from the first album which Imelda wisely saves as her last song.

‘Tainted Love’ a la Gloria Jones provides another highlight as the first encore, given the full Imelda treatment of course. This gives the band a real chance to shine with every member taking an extended solo, showing they are more than a match for Imelda’s talent.

She is destined for great things and with major label backing she can achieve them. Let’s just hope they don’t dilute the raw fire in her belly but I don’t think we have to worry about that: this is one determined lady.