More about: The Big Moon

The Big Moon finished their tour in London last night, with an eagerly anticipated show at the 100 Club. The word gig would be more suitable of course, but it was a full blown spectacle, and thus, it must be known as a show.

Their whole set up, intro music, lights and onstage persona, is almost similar to that of a band who have been there, done that, and sold their t-shirts. Funnily enough, it was hard to be annoyed when the band arrived onstage unapologetically late, as their music was enough to make up for their punctuality, or lack of it.

Their introduction to the stage was more comical than anything, with the lights dimmed as none other than 'Millennium' by Robbie Williams played out loud from the speakers. They were late, but there were still more people coming to the already sold-out show as they started playing.

The band launched into their track, ‘Suzie’, before introducing themselves. Then out of nowhere, they went into an explosive adaptation of their single, ‘The Road’. Their lengthy, loud and everything but boring intro had fans questioning what it was they were playing. But as the band quietened down, the 100 Club went mad over the realisation that it was their favourite single. A sense of amusement and surprise were equally weighted.

Most notably about this live adaptation is that the band launched into a huge riff laden solo, which gave Royal Blood a run for their money. They aren’t known for being guitar heroes yet, but it would appear that The Big Moon fancy their chances.

After throwing their heads back and forth, in sync swaying, the band would fix their bobbles, frontwoman, Juliette Jackson would say something like, “Do you like my top? It’s Fern’s. Woo Fern!”

Though their set was marred by sound problems, with bass player, Celie Archer, constantly asking for more of everything in her monitor, their harmonies were always consistent. Considering the sheer volume of the band, they proved their worth by staying completely collected and not losing their base melodies in all the distorted guitars.

Between jumping up and done and forming pits, the crowd would help singer Juliette with her band duties. Their single, ‘Cupid’ was most notable for the screaming of its catchy hook, “Sorry I’m not, your guy”. For the first time, Jackson appeared overwhelmed by the sweaty people screaming her lyrics back at her.

The band rolled into a blues driven version of Madonna’s ‘Beautiful Stranger’. The band’s take on the band made the Chenin Blanc song, feel dressed down in the back of a bar drinking a can of over-priced Red Stripe at 4am on a Sunday morning.

As they brought the set to an end, they requested that for the quieter number fans calmed down and take a breath. The band decided to set an example on how to do such a task by breathing heavily down the mics.

Rather bravely, The Big Moon refused an encore, before playing set closer, ‘Sucker’. Jackson said, “this is our last song, we’re not doing an encore”. Fantastic, a band who actually gets that they’re stupid. Don’t ever change that.

‘Sucker’ was a highlight for the crowd, sound engineers and band. The earlier sound problems eased up and as the song came to an end, and a stage invader appeared, whom the band embraced.

The Big Moon proved their worth with this show, and if the excitement of the crowd was anything to go by, they aren’t about to slow down. A set that was abrasive, but restrained. Messy but well kept. The Big Moon know how to do live.

More about: The Big Moon