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Looking backwards from my standard place at the academy, I'm sure this is the busiest it's been for a support band. As the lights go down, all eyes turn to Dogs. Sauntering onstage looking like this is a gig in their local pub, they pick up their battered instruments, and start churning out amazing songs full of Strokes style melodies, with the energy of punk. Lead singer, Johnny, soars through their new single "London Bridge" as the incessantly hyper guitarist dances and prances his way about the stage. Looking out amongst the crowd, Johnny says softly, "F*cking Hell, we're playing Brixton Academy." Continuing with a gleeful smile upon his youthful face, they end their great set and finish with one of the best receptions I've seen a support band get.
Maintaining the raw, dirty, punky sound that Dogs have introduced, The Duke Spirit emerge from backstage to play another storming set. Leila, the lead singer, sings like there's no tomorrow and backed by an amazingly tight group, get the crowd moving with their current single "Cuts Across The Land." Slinking back into the murky darkness, The Duke Spirit leaves with a large selection of new fans to brag about.
After patiently waiting for around 30 minutes, the crowd are beginning to get angry. A few minutes ago, a slide has been shown counting down from 30 minutes until Razorlight are due to appear. Standing there thinking, "They must be taking the f*cking piss" I soon realise that they're not and anyone who comes onstage who isn't Razorlight is continually booed until they leave. As soon as it looks like Johnny and the boys have taken it a step to far, the final countdown appears, and the crowd surges forward on the final number, they appear to an enormous reception. Racing through their punchy indie anthems such as "Vice" and "Rock And Roll Lies", Razorlight have defiantly redeemed themselves for that painful wait.
With the most bizarre set up I have ever seen, (fairy lights along the amps, floor lamps, hat stands and white flowers encasing the drum kit), Razorlight have made this a performance to remember. Topping off a great show, Johnny comes onstage for the encore to perform the heart-tugging ballad, "Fall Fall Fall" accompanied by the drummer on the piano. Closing the long set finally with "Stumble and fall", Bjorn, Johnny and Carl perform so called "busted" jumps with such precision and timing that it seems so staged. Yet it's not sickening, it's also not embarrassing. It's classy and "rock and roll". This show was "rock and roll". It was charismatic, poetic and inspiring, and it leads me to ask this question. What can Johnny Borell do wrong? The answer is, nothing.
Maintaining the raw, dirty, punky sound that Dogs have introduced, The Duke Spirit emerge from backstage to play another storming set. Leila, the lead singer, sings like there's no tomorrow and backed by an amazingly tight group, get the crowd moving with their current single "Cuts Across The Land." Slinking back into the murky darkness, The Duke Spirit leaves with a large selection of new fans to brag about.
After patiently waiting for around 30 minutes, the crowd are beginning to get angry. A few minutes ago, a slide has been shown counting down from 30 minutes until Razorlight are due to appear. Standing there thinking, "They must be taking the f*cking piss" I soon realise that they're not and anyone who comes onstage who isn't Razorlight is continually booed until they leave. As soon as it looks like Johnny and the boys have taken it a step to far, the final countdown appears, and the crowd surges forward on the final number, they appear to an enormous reception. Racing through their punchy indie anthems such as "Vice" and "Rock And Roll Lies", Razorlight have defiantly redeemed themselves for that painful wait.
With the most bizarre set up I have ever seen, (fairy lights along the amps, floor lamps, hat stands and white flowers encasing the drum kit), Razorlight have made this a performance to remember. Topping off a great show, Johnny comes onstage for the encore to perform the heart-tugging ballad, "Fall Fall Fall" accompanied by the drummer on the piano. Closing the long set finally with "Stumble and fall", Bjorn, Johnny and Carl perform so called "busted" jumps with such precision and timing that it seems so staged. Yet it's not sickening, it's also not embarrassing. It's classy and "rock and roll". This show was "rock and roll". It was charismatic, poetic and inspiring, and it leads me to ask this question. What can Johnny Borell do wrong? The answer is, nothing.
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