PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
At the height of the 2000s, there was a swarm of indie, garage and rock and roll bands, from Jet, The White Stripes to The Hives and of course Electic Six. The Detroit rockers took you to the ‘Gay Bar’ and gave you ‘Danger! High Voltage!’ off their bombastic debut album ‘Fire’ in 2003.
The electronic rockers released their 16th studio album ‘Turquoise’ in 2023. And the Pop Party has no sign of ending any time soon with stalwart singer/songwriter and dance commander ‘Tyler Spencer’ who goes by the pseudonym ‘Dick Valentine’ being the only original member since the band’s inception in 1996.
It’s been many years since I last saw them, let’s see what Electric Six have to show!
Supporting Electric Six tonight is T Is For Thomas Band from Sheffield.
I don’t know much about T Is For Thomas Band, but they play a blend of alternative rock and roll and are a collective of musicians who have/ do play in other bands and this is their newish project. Having recently been played on BBC Radio Six featuring, they are making some waves on the music scene. I think they got tonight’s gig as they meet Electric Six in L.A. some 20 years ago, so singer Tom Hogg tells us.
Opening with an instrumental-ish song that has some muddy progressive vibes, I’m not sure about it at first but the next track ‘More Or Less A King’ which happens to be their latest single has all the right beats, and is a better reflection of what TIFTB is about, garage-style rock n roll. The band conveys how it is through their lyrics. Hogg tells a good tale, and does great work getting the crowd warmed up with his anecdotes. The enchanting ‘Frida’ slows the pace after the explosive ‘White Light White Heat’ blasts your ears!
We like the song ‘Losing’, and tonight, it is dedicated to ‘Tories!’ It’s an upbeat rock and roller. TIFTB jam-out their set with the blistering C.M.S.
Be sure to check for their debut, which is in progress but as yet has no working title.
Setlist – BB&G, More Or Less A King, Best Friend, White Light White Heat, Frida, Losing, C.M.S.
Spotify –Soundcloud – Instagram
Vocals/Guitars/Keyboards/VI: Tom Hogg
Drums: Richard Westley
Guitars: Hugh Smith
Bass: Mike “The Knife”
Keyboards/Guitars: David Kuratsu
Photo gallery here – https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBA1wp
Electric Six
Taking to the stage, Electic Six singer, Dick Valentine, is dressed in a navy blue blazer and jeans, and I think this has been ‘his look’ for some years, now. I honestly cannot remember if the stage wear was more outlandish in their heyday or maybe that was just the early videos!
Songs 1 to 5 are the worst songs, according to Valentine. But everyone likes no 6. Playing an impressive 20-song set; Electric Six starts the evening with two tracks off the new album, The title track ‘Turquoise’ is a melodic rocker, and is a nice slow intro to the band. If you’ve not seen Electric Six you wont be disappointed. The band offer a blend of power-pop, garage rock and electro-infused disco rock, they like singing about dancing and having a good time with some comedy-style lyrics thrown into the mix, you can’t take them too seriously.
Upping the anti-the-party vibes of ‘Dr K’ electro synth beats infuses its sell-out audience, which comprises a range of ages with old and new fans in attendance.
Song 6, the one that everybody likes, is the funky, smooth, ‘Down at McDonaldz’. Valentine’s witty lyrics have everybody cool! Wait, wait, for it! The quintessence riff of ‘Gay Bar’ opens and the crowd go a bit nuts. It’s not surprising as ‘Gay Bar’ the now vintage garage rock track that made the world take notice and make superstars of Electric Six. Jamming the ‘She’s White’, it’s a mash of two classics.
Moving into the nightlife material, Valentine keeps the momentum by introducing the songs by their number, Getting Down and Groovy on ‘Improper Dancing’, his vocals are on form, and Valentine’s dad-dancing works!
I like how Valentine breaks down the sections of the band’s set, the next one is ‘the greatest hits’ followed by ‘the dance material’. Dick shares road tales and snippets of life on tour in between songs. ”Here’s another song for ya… the opening lines go ‘fire in the disco, fire in the taco bell’ – yep, you’ve guessed it, as the infamous beats of ‘Danger! High Voltage’ opens and again the crowd goes mad for it!
Closing with ‘I Buy The Drugs’ the band encores from the stage. They have played an impressive 20 songs and the crowd wants more! So what do you play?! Yep, the band returns with a cover of Murder On The Dancefloor! Valentine asks if we accept Satan as our master. Don’t be fooled by the sweet poppy beats of ‘Hello I See You’, the lyrics are devilishly deceptive.
Hats off to Electric Six, who asserted themselves as more than a novelty band, they have some serious songs to offer, amongst the greatest hits. The fans wanna make it last forever as ‘Dance Commander’ closes the set.
If you missed this tour don’t worry as Electric Six is back for their winter tour:
UK & RoI TOUR | WINTER 2024
25.11.24 COTTINGHAM Civic Hall
26.11.24 YORK Crescent
27.11.24 MANCHESTER Club Academy
28.11.24 DUBLIN Academy
29.11.24 BELFAST Limelight
30.11.24 EDINBURGH Queen’s Hall
02.12.24 LEICESTER O2 Academy2
03.12.24 OXFORD O2 Academy2
04.12.24 BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy2
05.12.24 LIVERPOOL O2 Academy
06.12.24 BRISTOL O2 Academy
07.12.24 LONDON O2 Academy Islington
08.12.24 BRIGHTON Concorde 2
TICKETS
Setlist – Turquoise, Dr K, After Hours, Naked Pictures (Of Your Mother), Five Clowns, Down At McDonaldz, New Shampoo, Gay Bar, Gay Bar Part 2, She’s White, Dirty Ball, Hot Numbers on The Telephone, Window Of Time, Future Is Future, Improper Dancing, Call My Phone, Danger! High Voltage!, Synthesizer, Dance Epidemic, I Buy The Drugs.
Encore – Murder on The Dancefloor (cover), Hello, I See You, The Dance Commander.
Photo gallery here – https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBxWH3
ELECTRIC SIX
Dick Valentine – vocals
Johnny Na$hinal – lead guitar, backing vocals
Tait Nucleus? – keyboards, backing vocals
Herb S. Flavourings – rhythm guitar
Rob Lower – bass
Dr. J – drums
