Blood Red Shoes at The Lexington
Blood Red Shoes – The Lexington – 28 January 2010
Words by Brendan Monteiro / photo’s by Marcus Maschwitz
The Lexington is pretty much crammed tonight but as the two piece noise-mongers from Brighton take to the stage the reception seems a little dull, and with that the silence is broken with set opener Keeping It Close from their new album ‘Fire Like This’ which is due for release on the 1 March 2010. Keeping It Close is a brazen kick in the jaw to this zombie-like crowd, unfortunately not to any fault of the band or the song itself, but it doesn’t seem to have much affect. Boring By The Sea gets big cheers from adorning fans (one of which watches every step Laura-Mary Carter makes like a stalker) and is only 1 of 2 songs that they play from their debut ‘Box Of Secrets’. Light It Up is BRS latest single and I have to say that it’s the first time I have heard it, but hearing it live made me want to buy the album right then and there just to get another fix of this song. Steven’s vocals fuse to the quirky lead riff, bending and folding only to come back at you again like a spider monkey, then the chorus bashes through with a knockout blow and leaves the chorus line embedded in my skull for the remainder of the evening.
When We Wake is yet another new track, with it’s scuzzy underlying riff paving away for Laura to lay down some amazing melodies while Steven builds the rhythms up around her. Live this song really comes to life with the percussion shifting every so often to reveal a different rhythm. Eventually time starts running away and with an almost forced/option of cutting one song out from their set list the duo twist the crowds arm to play another new song to close their set. Don’t Ask has a certain urgency about it, Steven’s arms are a haze through most of the song. It’s also has one of the down right coolest riffs in it, which reminds me of The Automatic’s ‘Monster’ and Bloc Party’s ‘Hunting For Witches.
Blood Red Shoes might occasionally be compared with White Stripes and this little bit of info bugs me constantly throughout the night. The fact is yes their is a similarity – they are both a two piece. Other than that I don’t really share the same thoughts. Personally I see BRS as a more raw and natural band. The songs are real and the passion that is exuded from both Laura-Mary and Steven make for one hell of a performance, and if you missed it or were one of the punters who couldn’t muster some appreciation for them, well it’s your loss in the end anyway. I have a strong feeling we will all be hearing more of BRS in the future … I look forward to it.
Set list: Keeping It Close, It’s Getting Boring By The Sea, Light It Up, When We Wake, Say Something Say Anything, It Is Happening Again, Don’t Ask
Footnote: I Wish I Was Someone Better was on their set list but had to be cut out due to time constraints.
