Lightspeed Champion at Koko

Lightspeed Champion at Koko

21 July, 2008
by: Jayrock

In a bid to be 'fashionably late' (or possibly I was just having my dinner) I missed the first ten minutes of Operator Please. If they happened to utilise this time indulging in some kind of naked, fire-eating routine whilst singing CSS covers with a newly liberated Pete Doherty then I didn't see it, hence it's absence in this 'ere missive.

Anyway, Operator Please are essentially five little Australians who make a big, big noise. And it's not a bad noise either, although sometimes a little string-heavy for my liking. Lead singer Amandah is at the forefront of the rabble and her impressive, ballsy tones punctuate their often meandering efforts. She's a feisty ball of intense energy who commands the crowd while her chums seem slightly non-plussed. Or perhaps they're just nervous. They rush headlong from one tune to the next but fortunately by the end of the set they've well and truly found their stride. And it's ferocious. With a sound that ranges from 1950s pop to something I can only describe as punk ho-down, they're definitely entertaining. While their popular single 'Just a Song About Ping Pong' is an obvious crowd-pleaser, I find their slightly Nirvana-esque cover of Devo's 'Whip It' and their synth-tastic 'Zero Zero' to be significantly better offerings and I'm left pleasantly surprised by this indie-garten's triumph.

Ahhhh Lightspeed Champion. Forgive me if I sound like a 13 year old girl whilst talking about him, but he's just so goddamn cool. Previously known to me as 'the one I didn't fancy from Test Icicles', this chap won me over with his obscene talent merely a few months ago but this was my first glance of his live tomfoolery.

Tonight he doesn't disappoint. Giving a proverbial 'up yours' to the heat and appearing in his trademark fur hat, Mr. Champion seems simultaneously bashful and excited. He starts things off in style with a new track entitled 'Happy Birthday' which has a raw, Kings of Leon edge to it but slowly morphs into something stunning and epic. One of my personal favourites, 'Number One', is live song number two and is so beautiful it almost makes me cry with joy (for the cynics amongst you I'll point out I only imbibed three quarters of a pint of beer all night, so such stirrings of emotion can be directed attributed to the brilliance of the performance).

Tonight Lightspeed Champion is accompanied by a full band complete with violinists and a cellist and the resounding richness makes it very much worth it. Throughout the set he is joined by Emmy the Great, whose sweet voice sadly enough is very difficult to hear until the final song, and other chums Kid Harpoon and Fred from Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man who he enlists during 'Tell Me What It's Worth' and 'All to Shit' respectively. Although there's something to be said for the Champion’s bohemian sense of community and urge to 'jam', tonight it's all rather unnecessary and a little annoying. Other than Emmy who's a staple and more than able accomplice, these collaborations do nothing to enhance the songs. In fact, after a cracking entrance, I'm loathe to admit that the middle section of the gig verges slightly on the mediocre.

Fortunately the latter part of the set saves me from any fleeting doubts about Lightspeed Champion’s phenomenal musicianship. An indie Midas, he switches seamlessly from guitar to drums to keyboard to straight vocals and seems to revel in every incarnation. Not to mention his awesome eighties dancing. Cool. His final number, 'Midnight Surprise', complete with its hauntingly honest vocals and swirling string section is a fine example of all he excels at, providing an ending nothing less than sublime.


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Jayrock