Photo: Thanira Rates
"Wanna get sexy with me?" purrs Brody Dalle to an ecstatic room. "I'll only dance if you dance with me."
The sold-out Ballroom is a sweaty mess of leather, leopard print, piercings, flying cups and flailing limbs. Such screams of undying devotion can only be reserved for a certain type of artist: an icon. The throbbing pulse of the crowd that swells from the second she steps on stage speaks volumes about her anticipated return to the world of music.
From her time as the fired-up mouthpiece for a generation of lost punks, to the queen of alt-rock with husband and king Josh Homme, Dalle's journey has seen her transform into a more mature and considered artist. However, as the seething opening notes of 'Rat Race' begin and her trademark drawling growl fills the room, it becomes clear that the nature of the beast never changes - and Dalle is one hell of a beast.
"I'm gunna burn this city down," she howls, "'cus this city, don't want me around." Yes Brody, yes we bloody do, especially when you're on such awesome form. With all the fire and brimstone of her younger years, her rendition of classics from The Distillers and Spinerette are still as abrasive and terrifying as ever. The reaction to early drop of 'I Am A Revenant' can only be described as feral, while the holler-back of 'wuhey-oh wuhey-oh' from 'Die On A Rope' is the most deafening reception of the evening.
But make no mistake - we came for The Distillers, but stayed for Brody. 'Meet The Foetus/Oh The Joy' is welcomed as the future classic that it is, while the slow thundering chug of 'Blood In Gutters' and it's affirming refrain of "find your weakness, go on, kill it," is as close to the crystallisation of Dalle's entire ethos as you could hope to hear.
As the roar of 'Coral Fang' fades and we're left with the acerbic taste of 'Underworld', the only downer is that it ended too soon. It was an epic and career spanning show, worthy of a far larger venue to befit her seminal status. Expect her to be selling out Brixton Academy by the year's end. After all, whether she's rocking out old songs or reinventing with the new, Dalle's inimitable punk energy and passion runs through everything she does - the future is hers.
Brody Dalle played:
Rat Race
Don't Mess With Me
I Am A Revenant
Die On A Rope
Dismantle Me
Meet The Foetus/Oh The Joy
Sick Of It All
Sing Sing/Bullet
Ghetto Love
Blood In Gutters
Hybrid Moments
Parties For Prostitutes
Coral Fang
Blackest Years
Underworld
Below: 16 exclusive photos of Brody Dalle at London's Electric Ballroom
