Doll and the Kicks with The Amateurs and The Lights @ The Hare and Hounds, Birmingham 11th February 2010

Three months, 150 odd miles and around 9950 people separate the last time I saw Doll and the Kicks at the Liverpool Echo Arena from tonight’s’ outing at the Hare and Hounds It may seem weird but having seen Doll and the Kicks perform probably twenty times as both Morrissey’s recent tours descended into farce, illness and well aimed pint glasses, I may have only seen them properly for the first time tonight.

This gig was all about differences and the contrast between the first nineteen viewings and the twentieth couldn’t be greater – an audience of fifty-odd in the Hare and Hounds compared with tens of thousands in the many and varied venues where they opened for the bequiffed one. And thank the cringe for them – on some occasions they were all the crowd got to see!

Another difference was that tonight’s crowd were there specifically to see Doll and the Kicks although the welcome was a bit muted and they could have been a bit more lively. Maybe this was a reflection of the band themselves. Hannah Scanlon’s Doll is usually a vision of bare flesh, sparkly or leopard skin pants and hair topped off with outrageous pink or yellow giant bows. But all dressed in black she cut a more sombre figure than usual; or perhaps this is the usual. Maybe the new (and huge) rose tattoo has taken the place of the more flamboyant clothing, or maybe it was just too cold!

It was good to see them on a conventional stage rather than stretched out in a line in front of a curtain in some barn or other. This was a proper gig and the songs seemed harder, sometimes slower and with the energy that they produce really in evidence. In this regard it was like seeing a different band.

The two support band could have done with a bit more energy themselves, literally so in the case of The Lights who steadfastly fought off technical and power problems to open the proceedings. Their songs are pleasant enough but as a band they seemed neither fish nor fowl.

The Amateurs on the other hand seem to have the sound and image thing pinned down even though they come over a bit like the love child of Hothouse Flowers and Tiny Dancers. This may be a bit unfair as we only had four or five songs to judge. They may have been squeezed for time by the technical issues.

Doll and the Kicks set was almost the same as their support set with only one new song Wanting Me amongst the likes of Fire, You Turn Up and Roll Up The Red Carpet. One of the by-products of being a Morrissey obsessive is that support bands’ songs get etched into your brain whether you like it or not! These were the familiar tunes but somehow they were rougher, earthier and less frivolous, and much more enjoyable because of it. If You Care in particular was a bit of a revelation as it had always seemed somewhat corny from 100 yards away. Being up close and seeing Doll giving it loads revealed it as the highlight of the set.

For just guitar, bass and drums they always have a very “full” sound and tonight was no exception with Matt Garrity’s guitar filling the space and really driving Pictures and My Hands along. As usual He Was A Dancer signalled the end of the set and with no encore planned. that was that.

In some ways it was like seeing a new improved Doll and the Kicks with the familiar elements being there. Although they may have benefited from playing a longer set in my opinion as the crowd were just getting into it! I think a lot of the Moz fans saw them as a bit of a novelty act and a bit light weight. There were a few familiar faces in tonight so maybe the message will get back that Doll and the Kicks not just about image – they are a proper band!

Set list:
Fire
You Do It Better
Roll Up The Red Carpet
My Hands
Pictures
Wanting More
If You Care
You Turn Up
What Comes Around
He Was a Dancer

Review Ian Gelling
Photos Steph Colledge

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