Nouvelle Vague live at The 1865, Southampton on 29.2.2024 with DeLaurentis supporting
My mate said how about this one. I’d never heard of them. Completely passed me by. I checked them out and realised this was a French group, or rather a concept, based around an original core which involved playing songs from my post punk and 80s records in a bossa nova style – a cabaret lounge feel.
First was the synth sound of DeLaurentis, also French. The short set had some heavy electronic sounds with at times a quite clubby sound. Well received and atmospheric.
A stage reshuffle and Nouvelle Vague open with Love Will Tear Us Apart. There’s a start eh.
Two female singers, a bassist (frequently armed with double bass), guitarist, keyboardist and drummer come intricate percussionist, but who anyone is, I don’t know. This outfit revolves the singers and always has…. I haven’t sorted out who is who on the current tour. (I have now identified Alonya!)
Both singers are excellent, playing off each other and giving a visual angle to the party.
The familiar songs in an unfamiliar style roll out: Making Plans for Nigel; Only You; Girls on Film and Cure classic A Forest (a video clip of that one saved here on my YouTube channel – the mid-song dancing has to be seen).
Cohen’s Marianne buts up against Teenage Kicks and the hits keep coming, in that sophisticated night spot way. This would be enhanced by little tables and glasses of wine.
Maybe the best of the evening was Bauhaus’ She’s in Parties. Took me a while to cotton on to the intro. Like so many of their versions there is a bit of disbelief at what emerges.
Guns of Brixton is another high spot, before an extraordinary rendition of Too Drunk to Fuck by The Dead Kennedys – the two singers sparring for their bit of stage and loving those lyrics.
Maybe Look of Love is less removed from its original feel than most songs in the set and perhaps less added value for that.
There’s a long version of The Specials’ Friday Night, Saturday Morning with some Eartha Kitt-like talky bits. Oh Terry, RIP.
The half-full 1865 enjoyed it all. A different crowd to many I find myself in. Some flamboyance in the clothing and some French students.
The encores includes Buzzcocks’ Ever Fallen in Love and Smiths’ This Charming Man, to end this wonderful jukebox in a different style.
They have a new album out, Should I Stay Or Should I Go, which features a good clutch of the evening’s featured songs, including the excellent She’s In Parties. It’s got to be worth a spin.
For more on The 1865, my updated venue blog elaborates: The 1865 venue blog.
Gigs with Ivan 