It’s a wet and windy November night and a large crowd of people are gathering outside Lancaster Library. Despite the library’s popularity two girls shyly approach my friend and I and ask "what’s going on?" As a regular library gig attendee I’m more than happy to tell them who has played over the years and that they should definitely come. They don’t. Their loss! As soon as we get in, our hands are stamped with "Get it Loud in Libraries" and we head to the front of the small stage tucked away amongst the science fiction books.
The Sharp Tongues are the support for tonight. A three piece all dressed in black and fronted by Canadian Julia Muth who possesses an irresistible drawl and impeccable guitar skills. Twin brothers Paul and Stewart Summers play bass and drums and shout in Japanese between songs. They play a set that’s full of fast and rowdy love songs such as "Hex" and "So Old" that would fit perfectly in the Scott Pilgrim soundtrack. Muth’s cute lyrics "I’ve got a crush on you" combined with the energetic music come together to create something that has been done time and time again but The Sharp Tongues embrace that and it works so well.
It’s not long before Kitty, Daisy and Lewis take to the stage. They may be the most musical family ever. Their mum Ingrid, once a drummer in The Raincoats, plays double bass and their dad Graeme, producer and recorder of Kitty Daisy and Lewis’ albums and also owner of The Exchange studio in London, provides backing guitar and ukulele. Having only heard a few snippets of their music I was amazed at just how brilliant Kitty, Daisy and Lewis are live. They are an instrument and vocal swapping frenzy and each sibling is excellent at everything they do. Their passion and energy just isn’t captured on record (some of which are beautifully handmade by Lewis). The turbulent Monday evening weather soon feels like a warm Saturday night with people actually dancing. Not just head bobbing. Actually dancing and jiving! Their lengthy set is a little self-indulgent with the drawn out intros but the energetic atmosphere makes up for it. Their hard to pin down (what with their trumpet solos, harmonica intros, 50s guitars and a double bass playing Mum), infectious, booty shaking songs are worth the long intros. And finally, they put on one of the best library gigs I’ve ever attended and even managed to convert me into a fan.
By Eden Young
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