The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart – The Lexington, Pentonville Road, London – Friday 15th May 2009
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart played a sold out gig last Friday at The Lexington, London. They headlined their first London show in a room above a pub, reminiscent to an early 1980’s gig at the legendary Living Room run by Alan McGee and Dick Green of Creation Records.
Unlike their support, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart capture the sugar-coated indie garage pop sound and stage presence, perfectly. Think what it would sound like if four young New York kids studied ‘Indie Pop 1983 – C86‘ and all received distinctions.
The gig was rammed. Some had already tasted the honey-dripping candy of the The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart live show when they supported their heroes, The Wedding Present at the end of last year. Others were ahead of the crowd by reading about the band on blogs like Buzzin Music and rushed out and bought their self-titled debut album. Others, (late arrivers) had read a double page spread in the NME. Everyone was anticipating something special, and for a band so young, receiving such critical acclaim, there was much in the balance. Afterall, this gig could be a huge disappointement. But The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart came onto the small stage at rocked!
The sound was perfect, though I personally would have appreciated more uncontrollable feedback, just for old times sake!
Live, The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart are tight, sweet and perfect. As singer/guitarist, Kip is a focal point at the front of the stage, while the lovely Peggy bops around behind her keyboard with a look of uncontrollable happiness as she joins Kip on perfect boy/girl harmonies through effervescent smiles.
They played tracks from their wonderful debut album plus the next single, 103, another three minute excursion into buzzsaw My Bloody Valentine territory.
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart are playing live dates across the UK and the rest of Europe throughout May and June. Unlike the ferore and hype that surrounded the Jesus & Marychain’s first UK tour, I don’t think there will be any riots. But that aside, The Pains are in a beautiful, happy indie pop timewarp that is only missing one ingredient, the sun!
So, has anyone asked Kevin Shields to produce the difficult second album, yet?
5 comments so far
1 Dan // May 18, 2009 at 12:08 am
Great gig. Really enjoyed it. Just to say, you may well be speaking about me (tall, ginger guy) and my friends when you mention NME etc. I didn’t find out about them through NME, and we were only late because we didn’t think it would sell out and therefore had to wait to be see if we could get in.
2 Dan // May 18, 2009 at 12:15 am
Oh, and I was really disappointed to have missed the opening songs. Can you remember what songs they opened with?
3 Terry // May 19, 2009 at 11:03 am
I wasn’t aiming the NME jibe at anyone imparticular (unless you work for the NME!) I was only saying that as we have been shouting about The Pains and had heard the NME ran a 2-page article about them last week.
I don’t recall seeing a tall giner guy at the gig. Just an annoying tall girl who wouldn’t stop talking!
Sorry I didn’t make a note of the guestlist
4 Colin // May 21, 2009 at 11:19 am
Good stuff, but have to take issue with the comment about the sound – it simply wasn’t loud enough by half (and, no, it’s not just my ageing lugs!) “Back in the day”, ears would ring for two or three days after a gig; now you can have a conversation while the band plays. Young people are missing out and it ain’t on.
5 serge // Jun 8, 2009 at 2:51 pm
i did the sound at the lexington the sound wasn’t loud enough because now in every fucking venue u just cant bring the sound up, thanks to the limit put by the council sometimes is ridiculous all the stupid issues u have to deal doing sound.