The Lounge Kittens - Madame Jojo's, London - October 9 2014 (Live Review)
Friday, 17 October 2014
Written by Anna Ghislena
Photo: Marianne Harris
Underground and heavy with crimson drapes, Madame Jojo’s burlesque cabaret bar, in the heart of sleazy Soho, is the perfect venue for British vocal trio the Lounge Kittens.
Usually styled like iconic American pin-ups, the Kittens have left their satin, hip-hugging dresses at home for the evening and they twinkle onto the tiny stage, by the light of a glitter ball, in dangerously high heels, sequined hot pants, bow-ties and shirts. Behind this colourful façade, though, they are really rock chicks.
Armed with nothing but their vocal prowess and piano accompaniment, they are a force of nature in three part harmony. To a packed house of intrigued folk, they open a set of covers with the Bloodhound Gang’s Foxtrot Uniform Charlie Kilo in voices like silky smooth melted chocolate. From that moment on, it’s clear why they will be supporting Steel Panther on their forthcoming tour of the UK next year.
Glitzy, glamorous and more tongue in cheek than LexiFoxx’s hand mirror, the Lounge Kittens are sassy and ready to handle anything. From Foo Fighters’ Monkey Wrench and Slipknot’s Duality to House of Pain’s Jump Around and the Prodigy’s Firestarter, cheeky redhead Jenny, serious, blue-haired Timia and “glamazon”Zan croon through a catalogue of music history. Even a Duran Duran medley, including Hungry Like The Wolf and Reflex, is like honey to the ears.
Having made appearances at both Glastonbury and Sonisphere this year, they honoured festival headliners Metallica with a debut rendition of Sad But True. The latter is obviously one of their proudest moments and an elegant mash-up of songs by bands who featured on the bill, including Black Spiders, Babymetal, Chas ‘n’ Dave and Fuckface Unstoppable, is delivered like a speedy tongue twister. In full, Iron Maiden’s Run To The Hills had the crowd singing along, as did Rollin’ by Limp Bizkit, with whom the Lounge Kittens shared the main stage at the festival.
Funny, entertaining and talented, the trio throw a touch of sarcasm at everything they do. Composing themselves with a warm up and stretch, they deliver a tango-inspired version of Aerosmith’s I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing like unnerving, possessive bunny boilers. Then, after shaking it to a clever Sean Paul medley, there was a return to rock and roll for the finale and, with sincere apologies to their mothers, a cover of Steel Panther’s Gloryhole. If the Lounge Kittens were one of that band’s STDs then they would be worth catching. Highly recommended.
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