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Review: 'Rachel Stamp and The Idol Dead'
'Live at The Garage, Highbury Corner'   


-  Genre: 'Punk/New Wave' -  Release Date: '26.5.22.'

Our Rating:
For one night only the absolute Superstars Of Heartache that are Rachel Stamp are back back back and ready to show why they have always been one of the most essential Glam Punk/Metal bands of the last 25 years or so. This show features the bands classic 4-piece line up Of David Ryder Prangley, Will Crewsdon, Robin Guy and Shaheena Dax and they were ably supported by The Idol Dead.

The Idol Dead who are a 5 piece opened with Get Your Boots On that was a decent stomping punk song about Rude Boys and had singer Polly Phluid giving us some great poses while he was singing. Next was I Made It, You Made It a song seemingly about self-control as they pleaded with us to raise our hands, well the riff wasn't strong enough for some of us to actually raise our hands, although they did get a good amount of the audience joining in.

They then did a song that seems to be a tribute to Cheers as they ran through Everybody Knows your Name at full tilt with a crunchy punk sound. I may have put the next song Molly down as Monet in my notes, but I don't think that would have changed the intent of it too much, although this wasn't a particularly flowery song, they were moving around a lot to get everyone going.

Bar At The Edge Of Time took things towards outer space, although they didn't quite have enough sonic reducer energy to make it all the way to deep space this still went down ok.

Before playing Clear Lines Polly made clear that the song, was all about making sure all your sexual actions are with other consenting adults, that shouldn't need to be said, but sadly does, this was a cool song about making sure everyone involved wants to be involved.

I have the closing song down as Pray For You but was obviously Idol and the bands sort of theme song and a good set closer.

After the break things went up several notches as Rachel Stamp launched into Brand New Toy, sounding just as great as they always have, with David looking and sounding like the perfect glam front man.

Monsters Of The New Wave was brash and totally full on with Robin's sticks twirling almost as fast as he was hitting the drums with them, as Will's guitar ripped through the tune. They then started to boast as always that I Got The Worm that had most of the audience singing along and chanting I Got The Worm over and over.

If any song sums up what Rachel Stamp are about Superstars Of Heartache is it, the lyrics sounded as great as they always do. I think over half the audience would have been very happy if I Wanna be Your Doll was sung to them personally, it still sounds like it should have been a monster hit, no matter how wry Permanent Damage can seem it just made clear this set was all the hits and more.

It's always great to be in a room full of people singing along to Pink Skab with its delicious synth lines and the sexual melodrama at the songs core. They amped things up further on Jet Black Supersonic that really felt like it was played at total full speed.

Starburst In The Triffid Nebula slowed things down a bit and showed a more subtle side to Rachel Stamp. David then put down his bass so that he could play his Black Tambourine during a very cool version of yes Black Tambourine.

The quiet part of the set continued with early single Stealing Clothes With Shelley Barratt a song that always makes me smile. They then went all top forty on us with the bands biggest hit My Sweet Rose that practically exploded with energy.

They closed a stunning set with Hey Hey Michael You're Really Fantastic and this set was fantastic, so great to see them all on top form especially great to see and hear Robin Guy playing with such power after all he's gone through in the last few years.

I was shocked that not everyone in the crowd was going nuts for an encore, but thankfully enough of us made enough noise to bring back Rachel Stamp so that David and Will could thank us all for showing up and also to let us know the real Rachel Stamp was in attendance, yes the woman the band named themselves after was in the room and wasn't the Dead Girl David was in love with that opened the encore.

We then got a good long version of Black Cherry with several break downs and fun and games between Will and David with Robin paused and ready to crash back in waiting for a signal it was great.

They then closed the show with one of the only covers the band has ever played, and a song David also plays when he has performed with T-Rextasy the ever classic Calling All Destroyers as they argued over which T-Rex album it came off of and well nailed it to the Garage walls as once again they brought another great set to a close.

I hope they can find time between other commitments to play a longer than one show re-union tour next time they get back together as they are still a fantastic live band.
  author: simonovitch

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