Established
in 1998 by brothers Matt & Ollie Jacob, London-based
Memphis Industries have ever since proved to be one
of the most consistent imprints around. With releases
ranging from chilled to dark pop, the label is slowly
forging its unique identity on the underground leftfield
scene. Counting the likes of Blue States, Fort Lauderdale,
Broadway Project or La Mouche amongst its roster, Memphis
Industries is definitely a rising star on the all too
precious London circuit. To firmly affirm their position,
the Jacob brothers are releasing the first Memphis compilation,
Estuary English, later on this month, with contributions
from the entire label crew. So, they well deserved to
gather friends and fans to celebrate.
For one night only, the excellent 93 Feet East was
opening its doors to the Memphis team, with DJ sets
by Ollie, new signing The Go! Team, Fort Lauderdale
and Broadway Project, and live sets from J Xaverre and
Blue States. If the main room remained relatively empty
during the first part of the night, people choosing
to congregate in the bar and lounge areas, the J Xaverre
performance draw the crowd in, thanks to the cheerful
personality of front man and lead guitarist Pete Diddley,
who was once known as Johnny X when he used to officiate
as drummer for punk-pop outfit Kenikie in the late nineties.
Once a solo project, J Xaverre is now a fully formed
four-piece act, which is set to release their first
album on Memphis Industries later on this year. Despite
a couple of long tuning breaks between songs and an
over-apologetic Diddley, the crowd soon warmed up to
the band’s blend of classic pop/rock presented,
showing increasing support for the foursome up to their
last song.
Taking over on the decks, Toby Jenkins and Steve Webster,
aka Fort Lauderdale, altered the mood slightly with
a spot-on selection of easy listening, sixties pop and
electronic tunes, finally sending girls dancing to the
tune of Donna Summer’s classic I Feel Love, before
retiring, leaving Blue States to take control. And God
did they do just that!
Kicking off in classic BS style with the cinematic
Disorder, a new instrumental track, the rest
of the forty-minutes or so set was almost entirely made
of songs taken from the last album, with the exception
of an incendiary version of Your Girl. With a fuller,
more mature sound, it is fair to say that Blue States
have become incredibly good over the last eight months.
Of the three times I’ve had the privilege to see
them live since their gig at
the Spitz last July, the 93 Feet East show was by
far their best. There is now doubt that the current
line up, featuring their new bass player, has gelled
perfectly, favouring brilliant interactions between
members. Singer Ty Bulmer has developed her stage presence
and vocals considerably, reaching a new peak as she
took splendid liberties with ad-lib melodic lines showing
a wide range of sonorities and emotions. Intense versions
of What We’ve Won and Only Today
in particular got devoted fans cheering and screaming,
with the vibrant Elios Therapia, closing the
show as usual in one last eruption of sheer energy.
With Broadway Project main man Dan Berridge spinning
the tunes for the last part of the evening, while the
crowd gathered once again around the two bars and in
the lounge, the night was eventually drawn to a close. |
