Infadels
Live Review: Infadels
with support from A.Human
Thekla, Bristol
Tuesday 12th March 2008
by Meg Rowell
I'm going to be honest. As soon as Infadels bounce onto stage tonight with their gold chains, Italian leather shoes and over-sized white trainers; I don't like them. I really, really don't like them. It's going to take the performance of a lifetime to change my mind and all this is before any of the rock-god posing, lip-licking or pelvic thrusting has even begun. I am not in a good mood.
Infadels are well known as one of the UK's hardest working bands and this tour, to support new album Universe in Reverse, involves their first British shows in over two years. From the crowd's reaction it's a welcome return - in fact, it's been a long time since I've seen a more excitable or enthusiastic audience.
They kick off the set with 2005's Jagger '67 to which the crowd reacts with furious dancing and whoops of joy. Moving on to new single Make Mistakes, the audience's adoration continues but, I have to say, I still don't get it. The music, a fusion of funk, electro and rock, is loud, slick and perfectly formed but there's something about the band that's proving a real turn-off and, frankly, I just can't work it out. There's no denying that the music is as sharp as a needle but are they trying to be so...sleazy?
Sleaziness aside, the sound these five Londoners are creating is pretty damn hot, and as they move on to tracks such as Play Blind and the euphorically anthemic Code 1, I find myself slowly beginning to warm to them. The over-heating crowd literally can't get enough and jump in time to every move lead singer Bnann Watts makes. At one point, the rusty old Thekla (which, for those of you who don't know, is a boat moored in Bristol's mud dock) feels like it may just topple over.
They finish the night off with Can't Get Enough, a funk-soaked electro-rock number which sees the sweaty audience worked into a dripping lather of buoyant bodies. My bad mood has almost gone and I even find myself smiling at the band's over-dramatic posing and pretentious posturing. I just really hope they're trying to be this way.
Looking at the Infadels' gigography, it's clear that they've been playing some pretty big places abroad, and it's understandable why; their sound and attitude is pure stadium material but, for the smaller UK venues on this current tour, the attitude at least, could do with being toned down a touch. That said, their energy is without a doubt their strongest point and that's one part of their live show they should definitely keep.
For more details about Infadels, including any forthcoming UK tour dates, see their page here on Ents24.
