Photo: Sofi Eln
The fact that it’s early on a Thursday night means nothing in London - it’s already hot, sticky and rammed full of eager ears in Corsica Studios tonight as local clashing, indie-punk outfit, The Violets take to the stage. Front-woman Alexis McCloed’s a mirage of blonde and eyeliner as her vocals evoke Souxsie Soux, with Jello Biafra and Kate Jackson, over the band’s spiky sounds. In a sharp turn of musical direction, brazen bass beats surface as Brazillian’s technicolour trio, Bonde Do Role bring forth an energetic show.
A few beats in and the crowd is transported onto the set of a musical cartoon, with DJ Rodrigo Gorky’s providing a soundtrack of samples, while his voice echoes that of Papa Smurf and Eric Cartman (South Park). Meanwhile on the far right of the stage, Marina Ribatski rolls her hips in sync with her singing as she shakes her way across the front row. She commands people to move in an over zealous manner to that of an 80s aerobics instructor, minus the sweatband.
MC’ing behind her, is Pedro D’eyrot who grins manically as he waves the bass drum from the last band’s set high above his head triumphantly. At one point when the heat becomes unbearable, he strips (encouraged by shrieks from both girls and boys in the crowd), throwing his socks to them as a token of goodwill. Marina shows no boundaries in her search for fun, as she wears her dress across her face like a mask for a whole song. Inevitable music comparisons can be drawn with CSS, but their sound is varied, hinting at numerous bands, including M.I.A.
As the crowd indulge in current single, 'Office Boy' and infectious stomper, 'Salta O Frango', it becomes obvious that Bonde Do Role weigh heavy emphasis on having a good time. With everyone shouting their choruses with the ease of a football chant, any potential language barriers that could have posed a problem, are smashed down and dispersed among clapping hands and gyrating bodies.
As their set draws to a close, people begin making their way for the nearest exit in a bid to reach cool air, dripping with the sweat of those who have been around them.
