(4 / 5)

I missed a rare, exciting Cardiff date at Fuel, we got the punk icon Lene Lovich here. I got to see here in Bristol the next night. Things were off to a ropey start when a somewhat familiar figure said to me I didn’t look the type to come to a goth event. What ever that means. God forbid an artist and journalist make discoveries!

The warm-up from Das Fluff was odd, fun and stirring. Dawn Lintern, the band’s writer and arranger melds with her long-time collaborator Christian Ruland. Lintern often delivered acidic vocals often funny and the spirt of punk never waning. Songs choice were stuffed with the ghosts of awful, past band members, a highlight was a left-field spin on quick footed drug addicts in Berlin. You never quite knew what was next. Ruland plays groovey keys and a modified theremin was a nice touch. The overall ambient vibe clashed with harsher rock protests, Das Fluff was everything it needed to be.

An all over giddy feel fell when Lene Lovich arrived after a break. With both American and English heritage, she has had an impact both sides of the pond. I can see her set going down well in New York. She often gets her freak on, with head gear looing like a veiled Dune extra, Vivienne Westwood and the darkened pigtails of fellow musical icon Meredith Monk. With a Number 3 hit with Lucky Number, she has made a mark especially in the punk era of yesteryear. Before the songs, surreal words and high vocalisations are the usual expectation.

Goth aside, ska in funky moments, fuse her songs with grit and poetry. The mood is abstract, yet each song was highly danceable, few songs were the slow ballad sort. Say When is another highlight, though the songs span decades and in her mid seventies, there is no sign of retirement. A mighty band also lifted things in to the air, some new members rubbed elbows with veteran musicians. Often a good time, the only slight was a uneven moment when it felt like a fight was going to occur in the concert goers, thankfully not.

Lovich’s voice is a fairly typical punk growl, I would like to hear more of her range, the little skats before songs show promise. Often the music is fiercely political, fed up and also thrilled to just to be here.