This is ex-Libertine Carl Barat's Club Night, "Dirty Pretty Things" which tonight came live from Koko in Camden. He was to showcase his new band also called, appropriately enough, Dirty Pretty Things.
Personally, I love this venue, it just gets better and better with each visit and a lot busier, too. The only minus side was that the beer was £3.90 - for a can of Fosters! That is a fucking diabolical liberty in any beer swiggers book.
There was to be a whole host of bands and special collaborations, but I just managed to catch SUPERGRASS. Not that it wasn't special enough. Gaz and co came straight from performing for sell-out crowds at the Hammersmith Apollo, and as you would expect they didn't fail to please.
Russell Brand brought his own irreverant comedy to compere for the evening. Averagely funny, with thoughts of "there's that bloke off the telly" but nevertheless he did the job, warming up the packed crowd, and frisbee'ing signed Supergrass paper plates and what not. Then having the crowd chant "supergrass", he had this mob of indie kids and spank felches frothing over their scarves and champin' at the retro bit.
This bash was like taking a bath or a gentle Sunday stroll for Supergrass, being gig veterans (10 years + now) and having played with some of the industry's major players (i.e Beck, Radiohead, Oasis) and - by comparison - this was intimate, small fry stuff.
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Crucially, though, they showed their true class, embracing the intimate crowd with a real rocking show. They played a mixed bag, from Greatest Hits to newer numbers off their latest release "Road to Rouen". A very honest set indeed.
They are a unique band to my mind. Hailing from Oxford, Gaz Coombes leads out the merriment, playing guitar and leading the vocal charge with older brother Bob on able keyboard, Danny Goffey hammering away on the drums and assisting with vocals and the under-rated Mick Quinn on Bass and back-up vocals. This is a cosy foursome, with each individual playing very tightly and as intuitively as you would imagine from a band who have been with us long enough to almost be considered (whisper it) veterans.
They are true stalwarts of the Britpop era and - importantly - still relevant. They have progressed from a catchy, foot-tapping pop band into a more mature dynamic outfit who still want the best and know how to get it. I can see these likeable chaps staying on the road for another 10+ years and us still being here to indulge them.
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