Space… Live on Earth
Review: Space at O2 Academy Islington
Published on March 10th, 2013 | Jonny Abrams
We’ve still got a few months to wait until Liverpool heroes Space unleash their fifth album Attack of the Mutant 50 Ft Kebab – that’s right, they weren’t in fact winding us up when we spoke to them in 2011 – but recently released teasers “Frightened Horses” and “Fortune Teller” have been sufficiently ace to suggest great things ahead. Thursday’s barnstorming performance at London’s O2 Academy Islington should have had everyone present quite rabid with anticipation.
Perhaps those rabid punters could be used to counter that rampaging mutant kebab: “attack, attack, attack!” barks ever-consummate showman Tommy Scott, while keyboard and electronics guru Franny Griffiths exercises Jedi mind control via the mediums of groovy flashing spectacles and more killer hooks than you could shake a skewer of shish at.
The latter’s melodies and textures provide the garlic and chili sauce to the former’s miscellaneous meat, with new members Allan Jones, Phil Hartley and Ryan Clarke forming the pitta bread and/or carton that holds it all together. Tonight is wall-to-wall treats, with a healthy number of instantly winning newbies (“Boy in the Body Bag”, “Crying on the Webcam”, “School on Fire”, the Clarke-sung “Cash Converters” and the Scrabble-referencing “Armageddon) aired amongst such classic singalongs as “Mister Psycho”, “Money”, “Avenging Angels”, “Begin Again”, “The Ballad of Tom Jones”, “Female of the Species”, “Neighbourhood”, “Me and You Versus the World” and “Dark Clouds”, the last of which segued into “La Bamba” – because, you know, it could.
Beginning and ending the show with Spiders cuts “Charlie M” and “Drop Dead” was a great move, and at one point there was an inflatable Frankenstein attack. Top, top show and with the promise of more to come – it’s time for Space again, continue ’em!
Rocksucker says: Five Quails out of Five!
Click here to read Rocksucker’s interview with Space, conducted just before the show
For more information, please visit spacetheband.com
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About the Author
Jonny Abrams Editor of Rocksucker and the website's founder, Jonny is passionate about the music he listens to, both good and bad, as well as interviewing his favourite musicians.
