The Long Blondes

Anyone doubting that rock and roll wasn’t high art need look no further than the Tate Britain’s sculpture garden. Under a small marquee the Long Blondes stand poised like statues of ornate beauty, with lead singer Kate playing the Indie Aphrodite. With the sun shining down, it feels like a cool version of your old school fete, and a far cry from the crap London venues we’ve grown accustomed to over the years.

Sometimes they’re sh*te, sometimes they’re great, the Long Blondes divide opinion. The haters say people only like them because they’re fit, the lovers are too busy dancing to ace guitar pop like ‘Once And Never Again’ to make a statement. “Nineteen, you’re only nineteen for God’s sake!” wails Kate, a kind of 21st Century Sandie Shaw, infused with the voice and spirit of Debbie Harry. Even if the melody slumps, you can be sure her idiosyncratic voice will soar above it all and make you think of Jesus.

Yes, it’s those vocals that keep things moving, letting weaker songs like ‘Appropriation’ slip through the net. Still, when they get it right, they’re amazing, proved no better by the delicately carved ‘Giddy Stratospheres’ and set-closing ode to tarmac ‘Separated By Motorways’.

All in all it’s a brilliant show, in refreshingly idiosyncratic surroundings. With The Long Blondes’ debut touching down soon enough, let’s hope they can distil the best of what they’ve got to make a record we can love until the last note plays out.

FUTURE GIGS

sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.