Melanie Pain, who with Phoebe Killdeer was lead singer with tonight’s headliners throughout their first half of dates on this tour, opens the evening’s entertainment as support artist with a sublime, stripped back set of songs taken mainly from her new album ‘How and Why’. She’s described the album as fragile and melancholic and her performance tonight proves her point. In between songs there’s humour and reflection. Anecdotes that bring laughter from those in early enough to catch her set, a set full of folky, French atmosphere that really sets the tone for what is to come.
I moan like hell about cover bands. They clog up venues and take people’s attention away from what’s new. Many love them but bands that play note for note versions of songs by your favourite bands are definitely not for me. There are, however, exceptions and Nouvelle Vague are at the top of that list. Firstly they’re a million miles away from delivering note for note versions. Secondly it’s perhaps the era when I grew up, when my musical tastes were embedded into my psyche. That whole punk/new wave/post-punk/early electronic period was raw and exciting and we knew every word to every song. Celebrating the 21st anniversary of self titled debut album, as well as a further five studio albums, Nouvelle Vague have carved out a completely unique approach to those heady years of music. Formed in 2003 by Marc Collin and the late Olivier Libaux this French band’s take on some absolute classics is unlike anything you’ll hear anywhere else. Imagine, if you can, the sounds of sleazy backstreet jazz clubs, 1960’s bossa nova, chilled out summer reggae beats with a bit of funk, art house movies, James Bond title tracks and visuals and apply it all to some of your favourite punk rock tunes and you won’t be far off. Nouvelle Vague make little attempt to replicate the originals. Instead what they do is completely off-kilter, hypnotic, enthralling and seductive. Part of the joy of any Nouvelle Vague gig is working out what the song is before any words are sung.
For this second half of the tour lead vocalists are Shanice Alonya Sloan and Marine Quemere. Shrouded in darkness with a bright white background screen the band stroll on and open with a beautiful, mournful ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’. They follow this with wonderfully stripped back versions of ‘Only You’ and ‘People Are People’, a gloriously whimsical ‘Making Plans For Nigel’ and a (almost) calypso tinged ‘This Is Not A Love Song’. Supplemented by a huge green, leafy background and some almost manic ballet/salsa dancing from Sloan ‘A Forest’ is an absolute standout as is the sultry ‘Marian’. ‘Just Can’t Get Enough’ features an absolutely massive drum solo lit only by torchlight. Dead Kennedy’s ‘Too Drunk To Fuck’ packs a funky, raucous dance beat, some screeching vocals and a playful, theatrical show from Stone and second vocalist Quemere. Tears For Fears massive hit ‘Shout’ is given a glorious, laid back reggae vibe. Nouvelle Vague close with ‘I Melt With You’, a simply glorious song whether it’s the guitar driven version by Modern English or the slow, seductive, dreamy version we witness tonight.
The band say goodbye but there’s no way this appreciative crowd, who’ve sung and swayed along to every song, are leaving without getting an encore. Huge applause brings them back for a perfect calypso, salsa’d up party version of ‘Ever Fallen In Love…’ that blows even this obsessive Buzzcocks fan away. Melanie Pain joins them for ‘This Charming Man’, a version that lacks that awful twangy guitar and instead could be seeping out from behind the doors of a smokey jazz joint.
The night concludes with Tuxedomoon’s ‘In A Manner Of Speaking’, perhaps the closest version to an original song we’ve heard tonight. We leave knowing we’ve experienced something special – not just a gig but what could almost be described as a theatrical show with it’s moody, noir influenced lighting together with Quemere and Sloan’s interaction with each other and individual band members. Tonight has also confirmed, once again, that Nouvelle Vague are, probably, the only covers band it’s really worth making an effort to see. I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again – if, like me, you’re not a fan of cover bands I suggest you go and see Nouvelle Vague. Completely different, absolutely unique, they’ll mesmorise you with versions of your favourite alternative tunes you could never imagine hearing.
Set list:
Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division) / Only You (Yazoo) / People Are People (Depeche Mode) / Making Plans For Nigel (XTC) / This Is Not A Love Song (PiL) / Girls On Film (Duran Duran) / What I Like Most About You Is Your Girlfriend (Special AKA) / Marian (Sisters Of Mercy) / Teenage Kicks (The Undertones) / Should I Stay Or Should I Go (The Clash) / Just Can’t Get Enough (Depeche Mode) / She’s In Parties (Bauhaus) / Guns Of Brixton (The Clash) / Too Drunk To Fuck (Dead Kennedys) / Shout (Tears For Fears) / I Melt With You (Modern English) / Ever Fallen In Love ….. (Buzzcocks) / This Charming Man (The Smiths) / In A Manner Of Speaking (Tuxedomoon)
photos/words: steve white.
