Tonight is a good night for me, I get to see a band
that came on the scene back in 2000, a band that are unlike most in, sound,
look and actions. A band that can alienate its audience’s but at the same time
appreciates all they do for them, a band that in all respects is unique and one
that I couldn’t wait to see live.
Now I will note that there were two support bands
tonight, but I didn’t see either, I could tell you that it was because I was
late getting to the venue, but it was because I didn’t want to see Taking
Hayley. I have no problem with them on another night, but I think they really
do not fit in with Mindless Self Indulgence’s style, they’re not similar at
all, and why this may be great for some people I think it really spoils the
atmosphere off tonight, as it mixes’ random electronic craziness, with some
emo/rock and for me that’s not a good mix. So with that I’ll jump straight into
the main band.
Mindless Self Indulgence, take to the stage with
drummer Kitty coming out on her own and starting a drum beat, then bassist
Lindsey comes walking out slowly to huge cheers, then guitarist Steve Righ’
strolls onto the stage thrashing his guitar and finally Jimmy Urine, takes to
the stage running to the front screaming “shut me up!” which is the name of the
song the play first. It’s hard to watch, let alone take photographs, off MSI as
each member does something different all at the same time; for instance at one
point Jimmy is jumping across the stage, Steve is sat at the front and Lindsey
is doing her infamous back bend (where she leans back and plays bass whilst in
a n shape), I was rather disappointed I missed a chance of getting a photos of
this but with so much happening, at once it’s understandable. Most bands when they perform will make your
eyes wander to the one person who is doing something different, but with MSI
it’s like a contest between the members to see who can get the most attention,
some may say this is counter constructive, but it makes for one hell of a show!
They follow Shut Me Up with Mastermind, Stupid MF
and Animal all flowing great into one another, with just a brief pause in the
middle whilst Jimmy asks the crowd who each member of the band is, showing how
much fans love the band, as they all scream the names off each member without
batting an eyelid. Towards the middle off Animal, we photographers, are asked
to leave the pit, as our time is up, whilst doing so Steve is sat on the edge
of the stage, and as photographers walk out he swings his foot at the them,
catching one or two on the way out, all with a grin on his face which to me
suggests that he is having fun, as security can’t decide what song we are meant
to leave on and are shuffling us out during a song instead of at the end which
means the crowd can now see the band without anyone in the way so he plays up
to this by jokingly mocking us as we trundle out. Once we’re all out and
packing our things up, Steve walks out from the barriers after us and starts
playing his guitar in the middle of us, with hardly anyone noticing, it’s a
strange moment as all the rest of the audience is transfixed on stage whilst
all the photographers are panicking to get our cameras unpacked so we can get a
photo of him stud in the middle.
The rest of the show continues with the normal
antics off, standing on amps, jumping off the drums and not staying still for a
second, whist in between songs Jimmy talks to the crowd, at one point he says
“Spoiler alert, you are going to die, you all have two things in common you all
love Mindless Self Indulgence and your all going to die”. He continues to talk
in between songs like Issues, Cocaine and Toupees, Never Wanted To Dance, Bring
The Pain and Capitol P, by saying things like “We are better than your parents,
we are better than your teachers, we are even better than your best friend. As
I will always tell you, that you are a Fucking ugly person. “ after this he
plays a game off, Cosmetic Surgery or No Cosmetic Surgery, where he walks in
front of the front row saying weather he thinks they need surgery or not. He
also asks the crowd for clothing throughout the set, asking people for ties and
make up so he can look pretty, to which plenty of lipstick gets thrown up on
stage, then both Jimmy and Steve pick it up and start plastering it all over
themselves. Jimmy tells the crowd “none
of you will be famous, no matter what Lady Ga Ga says. You will only get your
fifteen seconds of fame, on this stage” he then jumps into the crowd and grabs
a guy to say a few words before they play Faggot, the guy doesn’t really say
anything audible, but it’s funny never the less. They start to play Faggot, during which Steve
sees someone dressed as a tiger and asks them to come on stage, and during
playing the song both him and the tiger lie down on the floor, and swap glasses
whilst messing about.
There are so many other things that they did
tonight, as well as play some amazing songs, that it’s hard to fit them all in
but here’s a list of a few others; Jimmy played the audience like an
instrument, splitting them in too and giving each a different word to shout,
they recorded a message for London telling them how much they suck, they
proclaimed they were a Christian band and got the crowd to join them in a
prayer “dear god, we are the beautiful people in a room full of ugly assholes”,
Jimmy got the crowd to chant “for a faggy guy, he’s pretty manly”, Jimmy
stripped off his top and showed his ass to the crowd, and also throughout the
show Jimmy told the crowd, how they all sucked and how they should go and give
them money on kick-starter for their new album.
They ended their huge set off 21 songs with
Straight To Video, which went into a version of Master Of Puppets as the band
left the stage, just leaving Steve lying on the floor, thrashing at his guitar.
After a few minutes he got up and decided that seeing as they had 15 minutes
left he would get the audience to take part in Black Country’s Got Talent. He got a girl on stage who couldn’t do
anything so she got kicked off, the 2nd girl tap danced whilst he
routed through her purse, the 3rd girl who looked about 12, sang The
River by Good Charlotte, which went down well, so he let her stay on stage and
hang about with Jimmy behind the drums.
Finally he had two topless blokes come on stage who did somersaults,
they then went to climb the amps which meant security cut the show short and
turned off the mic’s and lights whilst the two lads came down. After all this, the band came back out and
came out into the crowd where they had photos taken and signed merch for fans
on their way out.
All in all tonight is unlike any gig I’ve ever been
too, MSI on stage, work their areses off to perform and play well and put on a
great show. If you didn’t know what MSI where about, then I’m sure you’d not
know how to take the gig, with the band shouting at the fans, telling them they
suck and asking for new clothes, you might think they were up their own
backsides and complete idiots, but it’s when you see the love they show for the
fans coming out and thanking them personally and by playing a long set, it
shows that they care and that they really appreciate the support shown for them.
So next time MSI are in town, go and check them out (now you’ve read my review
and know what to expect) and you will not be disappointed! 5/5
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