Tall Boys - Koko, London, 11/5/2006
by Anthony Strutt
published: 24 / 5 / 2006
intro
Anthony Strutt watches Stereolab play a brass-dominated, but typically brooding set at their first London gig in some years
Tonight in London is a busy night for gigs. Over on the other side of London at the Astoria in Charing Cross Road, Mudhoney make their return, but I'm in trendy Camden for Stereolab's first London gig in a few years. Stereolab have been quiet of late apart from putting out various 7 inch releases of which the last pile were collected together as an album, 'Fab Four Suture' . I like Stereolab on the whole, but the last time I saw them was supporting R.E.M. at Earl's Court on their 1999 'Up' tour tonight. I'm watching a band that have moved on so much that I don't know what they are playing. There are no hits or golden oldies on show tonight, and the bulk of the set is very much too loud, but the crowd love it to the end. The band play for 90 minutes of which a lot of the set is heavy on the brass front, instrumentation that they never used before. A lot of the set is typically Stereolab, very French and trendy in its sound while remaining broody as a hangover before a morning cigarette and coffee. I prefer the encore because it is more like the Velvet Underground's 'White Heat' in its essence and has more of a groove. Not my most enjoyable gig but interesting nevertheless.
Picture Gallery:-
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
previous editions
Microdisney - The Clock Comes Down the StairsHeavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EP
World Party - Interview
Michael Lindsay Hogg - Interview
Ain't That Always The Way - Alan Horne After The Sound of Young Scotland 2
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Dwina Gibb - Interview
World Party - Interview with Karl Wallinger
Barrie Barlow - Interview
Prisoners - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Marika Hackman - Big SighSerious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning Dew
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart