Lightspeed Champion, Semifinalists, Little Thief - 2nd February 2008
Reviewed by Martin Stapleton
Tonight’s headliner is Lightspeed Champion, it’s a Hungry Bears gig and needless to say, another sell out. As one third of indie noise purveyors Test Icicles, it came as a bit of a surprise when Dev Hynes took the step of re-inventing himself as a nu-folk Americana singer songwriter. His debut album, ‘Falling Off The Lavendar Bridge’ was released last week to critical acclaim, and this week he is the NME cover star.
After appearing with the main support, Semifinalists, which gave an early chance of the large crowd to get a glimpse of their hero. Dev steps on to the stage as his present reincarnation, Lightspeed Champion and greets us with the question, “Hope you had fun tonight”. He goes on to tell su that tonight’s gig is the first time he has played the harmonica in public. The first airing it gets is on ‘Dry Lips’. He need not have had any worries. Each of his nine songs are preceded by a short intimate introduction. Although I find the set sometimes slow and rather maudlin, the crowd seem captivated by the quality of the songs on offer, plus considering the £6 ticket price, it seems hard to find fault.
The musical influences he uses are varied. ‘The Crunk Song’ is ‘boring stuff’ about hip hop. While the biggest cheer of the night is with the announcement of the single, ‘Galaxy of the Lost’, “If you know this have a dance”, Dev requests, and many take up the offer, as arms are raised upwards. Dev looks impressed.
Disappointingly, Lightspeed Champion’s overall impression of Bedford is not that great, as prior the gig he tells of being “chased from Nandos, but in a bad way”. Thankfully, it does not scar his performance, which is only the second day of the tour. “We’re still fresh!”, he tells us. But Bedford’s still a long way from his Dalston home.
So far ahead of the game is this man that we are given a taster song from his next album. It’s as yet untitled but it’s a composition seen through the eyes of a Brazilian prostitute. As we near the end of the evening, it’s a chance to reflect how Lightspeed Champion possesses an obvious endowment of ear pricking attention which invites so much quality in his material. Although as they tune up prior to ‘Midnight Surprise’ this jovial gentleman jokes, “as you can see, we are all professionals!”.
Practice did make perfect, as this mammoth outro builds to a fitting climax. The crowd demand an encore, and rightfully get one. Dev’s had such a good evening that it’s a fun song, and a favourite of his - a cover of Weezer’s 'Buddy Holly' (although this reviewer was clinging to the hope that it might have been ‘What’s Your Damage’!).
Lightspeed Champion’s set was:
Salty Water
Dry Lips
Devil’s Tricks
The Crunk Song
Galaxy of the Lost
Tell Me What It’s Worth
The Prostitute Song
No Surprise
Midnight Surprise
Buddy Holly
Opening this evening are Biggleswade’s Guildean Gang whose mature performance was well received. London Road gained most applause and from start to finish they were a total joy.