Lazy Gramophone review - 12th September 2007

Standing outside any pub in Hoxton Street amid your usual unremarkable collective of council estates and dodgy would-never-eat-there Chinese cum just about anything takeaways, I really didn’t know what to expect as I entered the Macbeth pub as a Lazy Gramophone virgin.

I was greeted by the white suited Master of Ceremonies, Phillip Levine, who had taken early advantage of the free face painting stand – from this I knew that Lazy Gramophone was shaping up to be a spoken word event with a theatrical edge.

The first act, poet Ernesto Sarezale stepped up into the red glow of the stage to a round of timid applause. He started off well, but then became increasingly muffled until the two girls warming up with hula hoops in front of me took precedence in my interest. I watched on, thoughtfully chewing on my cola bottles which were handed out at the start of the night.

The following performance by Carl Slater was a needed improvement executed in simple old skool spoken word style - a man, a mike and his perspectives on love, life and anything else. Carl’s stance and demeanour was natural and unhurried and his delivery engaging.

I didn’t have too long to dwell on his performance as the M.C, Phillip Levine introduced the hula hoop girls to the stage. Pavlunka as they’re known began their act to a thumping electro beat looking like nu-rave Fame extras. It was all skipping, jumping and neon complete with hesitant audience participation, including a guy they used for a cramped game of double-dutch on the stage.

Of all the acts of the night, Ventriloquist was the most anticipated, having seen him at the Spitz I knew what a performance he and his band could give. As expected he was charismatic, profound and amusing all at the same time. His insight and dexterity with words is almost mesmerising. Thoroughly enjoyable.

By the time the last performance was announced, The Macbeth was decidedly busier with most of the local crowd covered in glitter stars and blue face paint. I guessed many had come to support the final act of the night – Paloma Faith. Paloma and her band delivered a passionate, noisy performance. I likened the depth of her vocals to Amy Winehouse but distinctly more theatrical with her starched turquoise skirt and red wig. The audience responded well by dancing and getting more rowdy. Afterwards, a breathless Italian man collapsed on the seat next to me gushing about how great Paloma was. It was his tenth gig he enthused. Interesting.

The remainder of the night was left to the DJ to mellow the proceedings with a cool mix of experimental hip hop as the crowd mingled and looked cool. I left The Macbeth pretty satisfied. Lazy Gramophone was a ‘multifarious’ night as promised but minus the pretence and crap‘trend’ factor one kind of expects from this creative enclave they call Hoxditch. Yeah, I would definitely come back and next time I’d get some face paints.

Review by Nii Amu Swaniker