The Long Blondes

Review by David Adair

Charity shop chic is the air and covering bodies tonight, as four close fashion mavericks with a love of the new wave seek to show that they are the conservatory, in Sheffield's current mansion of dialogue and melody driven indie. Kate Jackson does her Chrissie Hinde's come Blondie pitch with self assurance and catchy provocation early on. The glidingly catchy 'Giddy Stratospheres', sees Dorian Cox matching the leading lady in the swooning stakes. The sound in the dinner hall styled venue, holds firm tonight and the pizzazz of the debut album is matched almost note for note. The swirling glam punk of 'Lust In The Movies' sets the crowd moving with grace to match Jackson.

The closeness expected from a mixed gender quartet who each has a romantic interest with another band member, helps the sound maintain integrity and passion. Jackson regales us with tales of her first gig at the age of fourteen and, given the amount of fresh faces gathered, it can't be far off from being several people's introduction to the dynamic vibe of live music. There isn't a better place to start than witnessing the lure of ranging, opinionated and dynamic strutting of this trend setting outfit that sets pulses racing to false start point.

Rating; 3.5/5