The Classic Grand, 7 May
The Classic Grand proved the perfect landing ground for the wonderful, eclectic sounds of Moonlandingz.
That frontman Lias Saoudi, or Johnny Rocket to give him is stage persona, had become a dad a few days prior to the UK tour kicking off and missed rehearsals, only added to the relaxed, chaos that at times manifested itself during the show and we all benefited from the confusion that ensued.
When playing at full throttle they can, depending which track is being played, remind us of a cross between Yello and Alan Vega and Martin Rev’s Suicide. The show is part funk, part punk, part disco, part experimental.
Each of the band squeezed onto the stage provide the backdrop for Johnny Rocket to shine. Brass, bass, guitar, keyboards, drums, backing vocals. All the ingredients for a good time.
Kicking off in Scotland, the band begun the evening with Some People’s Music , Johnny Rocket giving his best Scottish impersonation, based on the album track sung by actor Ewen Bremner. It didn’t sound out of place and set the tone for the evening’s mischief.
Behind all the tomfoolery though is a sophisticated, experienced band. The rhythm section bound along at an almighty rate, sax and keyboards add their own flourishes that accentuate the vocals when they are to the fore.
The music ebbs and flows throughout the set, there are the high tempo techno tracks allied to the more chilled refrains that highlight the true virtuosity of all the individuals.
In contrast to the caustic outpourings of Some People’s Music, The Sign of A Man has all the disco beats that wouldn’t have gone amiss in an eighties night club.
Why do we want to see music played live? A question we have asked several times on this AtoZMusicalTour. Simply put, we want to have a good time, listening to the acts we’ve come to see play to the best of their ability, having a bit of fun and banter with the crowd while they are doing it.
And then to return to home, to listen again to their music with a fresh mindset to the evening’s entertainment.
On all counts, Moonlandingz exceeded expectations.
Support Act Jeanie and the White Boys
Musically, as a warmup act Jeanie and her band hit all the right notes. While there was a punkish attitude prevalent throughout, the music also had a bluesy feel to it, with the White Boys delivering the sonic backdrop for Jeanie to strut around the stage, delivering the lyrics with equal measures of venom and passion.
Not convinced telling the audience “….it was like playing to the living dead” endeared her to a genuinely appreciative audience, but maybe her provocative persona needs that added spice to deliver her show.
Definitely a band worth seeing again.
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