The Beautiful Word xmas 2008 gig review
A review of The Beautiful Word gig at the Sanctuary Cafe Cella on December 15th 2008, support from Los Bonobos.
The Beautiful Word
Christmas time means mistletoe, mince pies and red wine. It also means a big Monday night responsibility for two bands to drum up some festive jing-a-ling without being piss-annoying like Wham or something. After witnessing Handel’s Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall last night and with just ten days until the big day, it’s satisfying to get right in the mood with some total quirk. The high street chains have been trying to prepare us for Christmas since early November but tonight’s acts are definitely not piss annoying like Woolworth’s or something.
Los Bonobos
Woolworth’s are going bankrupt and so may be Los Bonobos by the sound of it. ‘Haircut’ features the hilarious line “ Toni & Guy, fuck off and die” by quite rightly slamming the ridiculous price of haircuts. Wearing “the twelve bras of Christmas”, singer Heike moans of deep debt and wears multiple costume changes all at once. In stark contrast is moody Lionel on guitar and this chalk and cheese combination is actually more like cheese and wine, as Lionel’s deep blues complement Heike’s fruity behaviour. She instructs the guys to “go for a slash or a smoke” before ‘Twelve Bra Blues’ – this girl is rumbustiously entertaining. Nevertheless, designating one half on the audience to sing “ho” and the other half “hum” during their festive culmination, their set finishes poignantly.
Then it gets even better. The party-throwers take to the stage and it’s an ethereal affair as Megan’s vocals lilt and don’t falter. The Beautiful Word is a Christmas bundle of Stars, Psapp and Alisha’s Attic. The strength isn’t mainly in the flourishing vocals, praiseworthy guitar work or the glittery percussion; it’s everything draped out as one and it’s molto buono. The Christmassy vibe is maintained and certain songs are suited to fit accordingly. After spending the last four months in Iceland it is both surreal and welcoming to bear the similarities between The Beautiful Word and Icelandic bands like Hjaltalín and <3 Svanhvít! The glock and guitar, combined with Megan and Emily’s vocal rapport suggest that Christmas has indeed come early and to that we say cheers and seasons greetings!
Marcus Walsh
