OK...the venue. Probably the worst venue I've ever been to to see a band. Capacity was limited to 150 but 300 could have easily have fitted in but for the "art" installations. Right in front of the playing area was a massive white semi-inflated plastic thing that resembled the intestines of a Diplodocus or its discarded condom. Over this was a big white balloon that was floating above a fan and under a spinning stick. Other objects d'art included two ripped sofas, a crate suspended from the ceiling and other spinning sticks. The most irritating thing was this wire and light contraption that kept been unravelled to its full length and then coiled up ad infinitum. The audience was shooed upstairs and huddled together so that only the front row (who were dangling their feet over the edge) could see anything. Mick and I soon decided that the decorations were a load of shite and I decided that our absent friend Scott would have liked them.
Did I mention that the venue didn't sell ANY kind of drink?
The support consisted of this Japanese woman playing some kind of electric organ (I'm guessing as I couldn't see it) and accompanying it with lyrics such as " da da da da da" "ha wooo woooo hahaha" "doko ni iku doko ni iku doko ni iku." One song consisted just of "Lucifer" being said repeatedly. I was imaging someone else coming on and striking one note of a Ralph Harris stylophone, when Mick said that it was "too much like parody to be taken seriously. " I decided Scott would have liked her.
After the performers and crew were cruelly sipping beer under the wistful looks of a thirsty audience, Smog was up first. He was good, of course, but didn't play that long a set to be honest. I was getting back pains from leaning in a weird angle so I tried to find a better place. After crushing some poor blokes hand with my pink ballet pump, I found a good spot, only to be interrupted by the constant coming and going of the wire appliance. Every minute or so lights were blinding me or wires were crossing my line of vision. I ended up standing half way up the stairs and hanging over the balcony.
So to Joanna. She was a vision in a black dress, black leggings with skeleton bones up and down the back and hair hanging loose down to her waist. Unfortunately, she made the fashion error of pairing black trousers with brown shoes, so only scored 7.5 from me. I had the same viewing problem as before. By now, some people had rebelled and were standing down stairs so I attempted to join them. There was certainly more atmosphere, but the balloon kept making its circuit and after about 5 minutes of watching half a harp and a big balloon, I went back up stairs.
She played for a long time and was accompanied by 2 blokes intermittently strumming, tapping, crooning or just sitting. I was quite surprised in that I really enjoyed her compared to the last time I saw her. She was less manic and her voice seemed a whole octave lower. Mick's synopsis was "She's certainly grown in confidence and the new music showed a greater range and depth. She is tighter both musically and vocally and there weren't any of those straggling songs that don't go any where. All in all, a very solid, impressive performance." I summed it up as "less squawky."
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