Words by Brendan Monteiro / Photo’s by Marcus Maschwitz

The Borderline as played host to some intense shows and with a sold out and fervent crowd eagerly waiting it promises to be no different tonight. A blue haired figure swiftly takes to the stage, makes a left turn behind the drums set and startles the crowd. The aforementioned blue haired figure is in fact Juliette Lewis, she totally suprises everyone and its 15 seconds into Kick Song before anyone realises it’s actually her. As soon as it sinks in the crowd jolt into action like a well oiled machine, with hands raised to the thunderous rhythms, the night is off to a cracking start. The opening track ( which Juliette calls Kick Song “because it has a lot of kick drum, that’s about it.”) is a new song but everyone reacts to it as if it were an old classic, the whole venue is feeling every beat. Mid song she breaks out from behind the drums and ventures to the edge of the stage to really get the show started.

I have never seen an artist perform with so much gut wrenching passion in my life and Juliette Lewis is by far the best performer I have ever had the pleasure of seeing. You can see that she is determined to give her fans the best show and she throws every ounce of herself into it. I firmly believe that even if you hated her music you would still enjoy and appreciate her as a live performer. She’s quirky and funny and she totally obliterates the stage with mountains of energy, tonight she is in full flex! It’s as if the music has a spell on her and on stage she just loses control. She’s the kind of performa that makes you want to get down in the thick of it and get all sweaty. The set is a non stop barrage of awesomeness of old Licks songs mixed with new material from the Terra Incognita album and it makes for one hell of a night. Sticky Honey is received just as well as Fantasy Bar, in fact the crowd go pretty much nuts for the entire set but it’s Uh Huh that really stands tall as a early favourite tonight, It’s summer charm has the adorning fans fixed in it’s grip.

Juliette also pushes the envolope with whackyness, her stage persona is made all the more eccentric with her trademark feathers and I find her inbetween song banter thoroughly entertaining. There is a lot of openness and honesty as well as some either genius lines or subtle outburst of insanity

When I was small I used to climb the tallest trees and look out
To the commune with the pixies and the wildebeests

but the combination of this and the music renders the crowd constantly in the palm of her hand. One thing that might go under the radar for people is Juliette’s lyrics, she is not just another “actress slash musician” and really does have some emotional and involving lyrics. She explains on the night that she writes “Songs of overwhelming pain so that you can feel me”, she goes on “I write songs to feel better and see if anyone else feels the same” and I think that this crowd really did feel her, they connected on an unimaginable level and it’s stuff like that which make for shows that are remembered forever in the minds of those who witnessed them.

After a set that comprises of a portion of everything that Juliette has ever done, she storms back on to the stage for the encore. The energy that was missing for the minute or so in her absence has returned and at breaking point immediately as she kicks into Hot Kiss. The party vibe is re-ignited; this is what Juliette Lewis does best, she brings the party or more correctly she is the party. She doesn’t just walk back into the room to sing her encore, she takes occupation of it and totally owns it! She’s raw entertainment like nothing else on earth and if you haven’t seen it yet, make a plan.

Setlist:

Kick Song, Fantasy Bar, Pray For The Band Latoya, Sticky Honey, Rock Away, Hard Lovin’ Woman, You’re Speaking My Language, Purgetory Blues, Uh Huh, Got Love To Kill, Terra Incognita, Suicide Dive Bombers, Hot Kiss, No Fun???

Photo by Marcus Maschwitz

Juliette is heading over to Europe throughout June to play loads of festivals. Her one UK festival this year will be the Isle of Wight Festival. She has just added two other shows at intimate venues. Dates are:
Fri June 11th – Isle of Wight festival
Tue June 29th – Colchester Arts Centre
Wed June 30th – London Borderline
You can watch the video for her new single “Uh Huh” here:

Words by Anja Pomeroy / Photos by Marcus Maschwitz

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Juliette Lewis. I’d seen her with the Licks and never become a big fan. She came onto the stage looking like someone ready to go trick or treating and finished the show with so much emotion. Juliette said that when she was younger that she needed a way to express herself and that she thought music was her way. She definitely shows her expression and you join her on a journey with every song.

Miss Lewis mixes good old fashioned rock ‘n roll with her personality and eccentricity. She belted out loves song with a twist like Uh Huh that got most people tapping their toes, she played an eerie song called Ghost that made me feel like I was a star in Twilight and ended the show by donning her feathered headband to sing Hot Kiss which got the crowd in frenzy.

Juliette really does know how to put on a good show and I forget that I not the biggest fan and get pulled into her amazing showmanship. From her outfit to her onstage presence she ensures that everyone knows that she is in the building. At one stage she jumped on the drum stage and hit the cymbals so hard I thought they were going to explode into little metal pieces.

I really enjoyed the show and although I’m not the biggest fan I do think I am converted and a few of her songs will be added to my play list…

Setlist: Romeo, Into, Purgatory, Ghosts, Fantasy Bar, Pray, Hard Lovin Woman, Terra Incognita, Got Love to Kill, Uh Huh, Sticky, Speaking, Suicide Divebombers, Hot Kiss.

Support from Solid Gold

Words and Photos by Marcus Maschwitz

I am going to start off by saying that I was only meant to photograph this show and not write about it but due to a personal emergency I was asked to do both at last minute so I am stepping up to the plate and because my workload is currently overflowing I am letting you know this so that I have an excuse for all the mistakes that this article might end up having.

My interest in Juliette Lewis began back around 10 years ago when she began dating Steve Berra and being a skateboarder it was really cool and enough reason to want to follow her career. It just so happens that after all the years, and me growing up, she has given me more reason to follow her work than just being in a relationship with a skateboard hero back in the day. This would be my first experience of Juliette’s new project but I had seen her by accident about 2 and a half years ago performing as Juliette and the Licks and I was absolutely gob-smacked at her live stage energy. When I saw her name on the list that night I thought it would be some kind of a joke and I remember clearly her running around the stage like she was “mental” smashing the drums and going off which resulted in my purchasing 2 of her albums the very next day. I have since craved to see her again on stage and shoot photographs but things got in the way until now.

Arriving at the venue just as Solid Gold take to the stage and immediately I like them. I have never heard of them before tonight and I never expect anything from an opening band (bad on my behalf and I am often shocked) but I enjoyed what I was hearing and really enjoyed their set and their experimentation between instruments. It sounded good, it sounded sweet and it sounded tight which is a definite check in my good books. Normally I make my way to the bar or wait outside but I drew closer and closer to the stage so I could enjoy my experience and I found myself saddening at the thought that their set was getting nearer to the end. In saying this, the band was joined in for the last two songs by someone who completely ruined it for me. I know it’s cool to have friends join you on stage and play along but this guy was drunk and way too cool, loud and full of himself for the band I had just grown intimate with and immediately I was done. Now my focus was directed again at Juliette. I know I wasn’t the only one but we will try get our hands on a copy of their stuff to review for you.

Anyway, the lights came on, the stage was quickly cleared and setup. The lights dimmed and The New Romantiques entered with Juliette following shortly after. As the last time, she was dressed for the occasion and began shocking rocking from the word go. I love that she plays the part and I love even more that she plays it so well. She is quirky, really quirky but she is good and it definitely feels as though she is feeling what she is doing. She interacts with the crowd, every part of the crowd, even making her way off the stage into the tight pack singing along with die-hard fans for almost half a song before making her way back on stage to continue with her SHOW.

The set is a mix up of old and new and I am, from the start, excited about the new album Terra Incognita which will be out soon. Juliette really is made for the stage and I feel special for being a part of the intimate crowd that was lucky enough to witness her magic in such a small venue as I know it is only going to get bigger and bigger from here. Not only is she spot on but her band is really cool too and after tonight I cannot wait to get my hands on the new album as soon as it drops.

They announced that they will be playing a bunch of shows in the UK again to promote the release in September and I can only recommend that you make a plan to see them live. You will be hooked, not necessarily to their album but without doubt to their live performance. Definitely a good night out.

We just got this video and you have to watch it. Amazing ……