Live Review: Spang Sisters - Moth Club, London 23/05/2021
While we've all been painfully awaiting the long-overdue return of live music, Spang Sisters have been perfecting their effortlessly stylish sound. To celebrate the release of their self-titled debut album this week they put on a double show of hedonistic realism at Hackney’s MOTH Club on Sunday, gracing the glitzy stage with modest ease and jangling through a repertoire of old and new.
With support coming from the glam-disco version of Kate Bush - Daisy Capri aka Vanity Fairy - the night was one of quiet extravagance and understated confidence. The Spangs themselves, usually a duo of Rachid Fakhre and Jules Gibbons, were joined onstage by a further bassist, drummer, flute and trombone section, making up a full and fun band that filled the room with much-needed respite from the world outside.
After the long, strange, isolated year we've all just endured it was clear to see that the energy in the audience was purely positive and grateful - it was nice enough just to get out of the house. But something that was apparent in the band’s performance is how they have made good use of this time, evolving and constantly writing throughout lockdown even after completing the new record. Although billed as an "album launch show", tracks from the newly released Spang Sisters LP only made up about half of the 40-minute set, with the rest of the time taken up with the very first airings of completely new music. Clearly not a band who like to hang around, Fakhre and Gibbons take turns on lead vocals as well as alternating acoustic, electric guitars, and keys between them. Somewhat of a creative whirlwind, they don't take too much time to address the crowd between each swooning number, but the bantering between the band themselves in such charming fashion makes the already intimate show a more inclusive and friendly atmosphere.
The couple of album singles that they do drop in, the poignant 'Ballad of Joyce Vincent' and their newest one 'Thank You, Will Shortz' are quirky and witty tunes. Bringing obscure real people into the setting of shimmering melodies and humorous lyrics, they caricaturize these existences into abstract versions of themselves, typically not taking anything too seriously, as is the Spang Sisters style. But the main purpose of the show seemed more focused on trialing the newer material, already bored of the album they’d worked on for several years but have only just been able to put out. However when we’ve all been deprived of live music for so long every last note seemed appreciated, whether it was recognised or not. It just remains to be seen whether they’ll go on to tour the album properly, or are already ready to move on..
Words by Alice Jenner
Photo credit - Jack Menzies