Rachel Stamp
The Underworld, Camden, London, 13th April 2017
Rachel Stamp were everything that I ever wanted in a Rock and Roll
band.
Seventeen years since I first saw them at the Princess Charlotte in
Leicester, Rachel Stamp are back for one night only at The Underworld
in Camden and it would appear the intervening years have just made
them that little bit more, well sexy.
Rachel Stamp always should have been huge. Go and listen to their
debut album Hymns For Strange Children and tell me that not one of
those songs shouldnt have leapt up the UK top 40 in the late
nineties and early noughties. Likely the band were their own instruments
of destruction. They were probably a little bit too much for your
typical TV or radio at the time. Always being two steps ahead of your
Brian Molkos but just a tad shy of Marilyn Manson. Still, they did
amass an incredibly dedicated cult following in their time, and it
is likely these same guys and girls who are here tonight. Arent
we just the best?
First things first. Nobody on this planet plays the drums with such
enthusiasm as Robin Guy. You could just watch him throughout the gig
and be thoroughly entertained. When he hits them drums, man, he hits
hard. Will Crewdson, erstwhile guitarist and member of about fifty
bands at any one given time, has not aged in the slightest. David
Ryder-Prangley is all cheekbones and catsuits and hasnt lost
one bit of his rock superstar prima donna persona. And obviously Shaneena
Dax is there, looking amazing and mostly just kind of surveying the
audience like some naughty headmistress. At one point, she even breaks
character and cracks a smile. Blimey.
The set is made up largely of tracks from Hymns for Strange Children
with only Ladies + Gents and, almost unforgivably, Didnt I Break
My Heart Over You being absent. A few other early singles and B-sides
are included too as well as a clutch of racks from their criminally
under-rated second album Oceans Of Venus. Those Hymns For Strange
Children tracks such as Dirty Bone, Spank and Take A Hold Of Yourself,
still drip with the same sweat and sleaze that they did back at the
turn of the millennium. Whilst the Oceans Of Venus era saw a slightly
more grown up take on matters, songs like Superstars Of Heartache,
Victory and, in particular the greatest hit that no band ever had,
Black Cherry, still just rock like a bunch of utter, utter bastards.
What is perhaps most amazing about this show though is the crowd.
These guys are all incredible. To see such dedication to a band that
havent released an album in 15 years, and all but disappeared
is great to see. I was expecting to feel old at this gig, but it was
the youngest I have felt for ages. During Black Tambourine, David
leaves the stage and walks to the back of The Underworld to let the
crowd join him in the vocals whilst the band remain holding fort on
stage. To still have that strong a connection having been away for
so long is great. This wasnt just a celebration for the band,
but for us too.
Even though this was probably the longest show Rachel Stamp have ever
played, it all came to an end too soon. I dont know if they
will be spurred on to do a few more shows or whatever although that
would likely prove difficult as each of the band are always busy doing
their own things. However, if they did it would be great to get those
tracks for the uncompleted third album Ravenous out somehow. If anyone
is unfamiliar with Rachel Stamp, go check them out on YouTube or however
you do things, and see if you come to the same conclusion as me:
Rachel Stamp are still everything that I want in a Rock and Roll band.
Words: Richard Bull
Pictures: Graham Bates
Setlist:
Monsters Of The New Wave
I Got The Worm
I Wanna Be Your Doll
Superstars Of Heartache
Dead Girl
Take A Hold Of Yourself
Brand New Toy
Starburst In The Triffid Nebula
Pink Skab
True Love
Dirty Bone
Black Tambourine
Stealing Clothes From Shelley Barrett
My Sweet Rose
Hey, Hey Michael Youre Really Fantastic
(Encore)
Victory
Jet Black Supersonic
Black Cherry
Calling All Destroyers