Arriving at Broadcast just before tonight’s headliners are about to take the stage I’m surprised to see such a patchy crowd, but still I’m pretty excited to see what U.S. Girls’ deliciously dark latest album, Half Free, Meghan Remy’s first on 4AD, translates to live.
We have to wait to hear new material as the hauntingly yearning ‘Rosemary’ opens proceedings, dashed in blue light with sinister red lights trimming the stage.
The first striking thing you notice is that Remy has shaved her head, now it’s quite possible this has been a thing of her for a while, but having only seen her in pictures with a full head of hair it comes as a surprise.
Now, I don’t know if it’s the hair cut, but she sure cuts an imposing figure; her tall, albeit heeled, frame and large hooped earrings help her ooze a presence that portrays confidence in a somewhat fragile way.
Early sounds issues seem to get to her slightly, but she does her best to not let it show, strutting through the crowd to give the sound guy instructions mid song; her live set, tonight accompanied by a guest vocalist, stays on the darker side but seems to hint more towards disco than her records would suggest as ‘Window Shades’ provides an early highlight.
Her performance has little crowd interaction, in fact she doesn’t utter a word to the crowd until a rather awkward “you’re supposed to cheer for us to come back out… you forgot? Are you five years old,” at the start of the encore, but there’s little call to interact, her performance is so emotive and expressive, as she shimmies and sways away around the stage backed by enthralling beats and backing vocals.
Even when she’s skulking around the back of the stage, leaning nonchalantly against a pole she’s grasps your attention.
Predictable highlight of the night is opening single from Half Free, ‘Damn That Valley’, which hooks the room with its gritty groove and hooky melodies, before Remy and her backing vocalist take a showpiece bow before leaving the stage to return to close on the powerful ‘Sororal Feelings’.
Tonight might not have been the ideal set for the girls, indeed there are points when Remy looks like she needs encouragement after an array of sound issues, but this might be all part of the drama.
Still, issues aside the set is captivating and one that’s definitely worth checking out, and by the smile on Remy’s face and the queue at the merch desk after the show, those in attendance agree.
Words: Iain Dawson
Photos: Aimee Boyle
