Black Lips @ the Junction 2 (the Shed), Cambridge, 11.05.08

Openers White Williams sound and look as if they've been asked to perform at one of their parents' wedding anniversaries. Their music is lustreless, their performance listless. Attempts at spicing up the dull glam-pop with randomly thrown in digital sound effects are ill-advised and the entire performance falls flat on its face as everyone in the room and on stage, including Williams himself, simply looks bored. In short: a spectacularly strange and failed choice of opening band.

It's a good thing, then, that garage punks Black Lips are more than ready to bring some buzz into the Shed – expectations are running high as these boys have gained quite a reputation for themselves with their often rather raucous live shows and stage antics.

As the opening notes to I Saw A Ghost (Lean) sound out the air is suddenly crackling with energy and it doesn't take long for the first drink to get thrown (in a positive sense). From scenester stillness to head-bopping and foot-tapping, from swing dancing to the obligatory group of crazy teenage boys jumping around and taking down anything in their way: every possible audience reaction is represented – the common denominator being enjoyment of the show.

Slight technical problems involving the bass drum somewhat interrupt the performance early on, but the Lips have brought along a repertoire of samples, jams, and witty banter to seamlessly patch over the bumps (good thing, too – read on!).

Anyone who has ever been to the Shed knows that it's not usually a space made for rock gigs. Yes, the central area of seating has been removed and turned into a standing area, yes, a stage has been erected, but no, no barriers have been put up. During the initial stages of the show, a lonely Junction employee stands on his own against the knot of bodies moshing around and slamming against the front monitors (there are even some attempts at crowd-surfing in a 'crowd' hardly dense enough to be called such).

The situation escalates as the Black Lips launch into their new single Bad Kids and a full-blown stage invasion runs its course. The Junction security man doesn't even attempt to get the dozen or more young boys off the stage, realizing that his endeavours would most likely be fruitless. There is much jumping about, dancing, and getting tangled in leads but the Lips play on bravely – even as half the drum kit (including the bass drum) ends up being thrown into the audience (I know. Wow.) and only cease when the PA system is cut in an attempt to restore some order amidst the madness. The above-mentioned filler is put to good use as kids are unceremoniously returned to the audience, equipment is returned to the stage, a short search for the bass drum pedal is undertaken, and the drum kit is reassembled. Everyone always says the Black Lips go crazy on stage, but there's just the slightest possibility that the Lips have been beaten at their own game tonight. As singer/guitarist Cole Alexander would later say - “Man, we were singing a song called Bad Kids, we couldn't really turn around and tell them to stop.” Some of these crazy kids even showed up in a big white limo.

The show must go on, and after what seems to be every Junction staff member on duty that night is called in to act as a human barrier the Lips resume their performance. Despite some of the audience members' most valiant attempts, the Junction staff manage to prevent any further major stage invasions (though once or twice a particularly resourceful individual manages a victorious few skips on the stage). Even a rather small and frail looking girl complete with flower in her hair is among the Junction employees now standing in front of the stage, but the kids are respectful enough not to slam into her – instead Cole takes the opportunity to crouch down behind her mid-performance and give her a kiss on the cheek.

Other stand-outs of the show include a smashing performance of Cold Hands, as well as the fantastic Hippie Hippie Hurrah whose whooshing noises are always good fun, particularly as the boys like accompanying them with ominous arm motions and finger-waving almost as if attempting to cast a spell over the crowd (which they do).

Drummer Joe Bradley’s faces are a sight to behold, guitarist Ian St.Pé's trademark gold teeth glint in the stage lights, bassist Jared Swilley's moustache is reaching impressive proportions, and Cole enjoys pulling his spit-in-the-air-and-try-to-catch-it stunt – basically, the Lips are on top form. Sharing vocal duties they seem to be having a blast on stage, and the fun is infectious.

What is remarkable about their performance is that despite their (admittedly recently toned-down) antics, they manage to pull together and slam home a set that is musically impressive and instrumentally quasi-flawless (disregarding technical issues). In short, the Black Lips are definitely a band to be seen should the opportunity ever present itself – you'll be sure to get a memorable night all around.

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The (improvised) set list was comprised mostly of material of the two most recent studio albums (Let It Bloom 2005, Good Bad Not Evil 2007) with a few other tracks thrown in.

(Not complete, and definitely not in order):

Hippie Hippie Hurrah
Cold Hands
I Saw A Ghost (Lean)
O Katrina
Buried Alive
Juvenile
Boomerang
Bad Kids

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(left to right: Cole, Jared, Joe, Ian)

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(the reviewer apologizes for any mistakes that may have inadvertently been made courtesy of useless memory, esp. re. setlist)