Adam Green at Koko

Adam Green at Koko

21 July, 2008
by: Sween

The boy works fast. Notable in the anti-folk canon, but mostly imbued with the divinity of being adored by post-pubescent girls, Adam Green recently released his fifth solo album 'Sixes and Sevens' since the hiatus of The Moldy Peaches, and is fast reaching international prominence. Perhaps those lazy hipster eyes that so enrapture the cavern of girls in KoKo tonight conceal a musical grafter. Perhaps he's just recording any old crap and putting it out with a big photo of his slack-jawed scamp's pout on it. It's probably a bit of both. But by riding the wave of publicity that has come with the central inclusion of 'Anyone Else But You' in surprise hit pregno-flick Juno, his timing couldn't be better.

However the same can't be said of his punctuality. He tumbles onto stage after a few minutes of that live delicacy – intro music. If you don't like musicians who present themselves in a manner only shared by wrestlers, then you will be much chagrined to know that the comparison doesn't stop there – he sports a long-sleeved top with waist-length fringes. His inebriated grin makes clear, that this is a performance from start to finish. "I'm sorry," he hollers over the whoops of the crowd, "I couldn't find the bathroom." (wipes unidentified liquid from trousers).

But you never see that baritone coming! He launches into songs of great energy, chirpy little organ-driven numbers with that smooth voice sliding lithely over the verses as he whirls about the stage in hilarity. He is presented with a full band for the most of the show, complete with two of South London's own girls on sway-the-hips backing vocals, only rendering a couple of numbers in his traditional solo-acoustic setting (including the notable ditty 'Jessica', a charming lovelorn letter to she of….actually what is she famous for? Oh, right, her tits). Fans of the old may be disappointed with this, so die-hards beware their own sentimentalities. Yet he eases into the frontman role like a drunken duck onto water, making all the right moves, bringing the crowd right into the act.

Make no mistake – this is a show all about Adam Green (which you could probably figure out already). From the 18-foot high photo of his face as the stage backdrop, to the songs of his inward whimsy and droll reflection (He sings "There's no wrong way / to f**k a girl with no legs"). The music is much more influenced than you might think from his reputation – the new tunes quite closely hark back to American 60s pop acts, such as The Doors and The Standells, but with a postmodern (antifolk) slant. These are fun songs, about funny life, from a funny boy – but might I suggest that watching a tipsy child playing at Jim Morrison for the adults, throwing himself about the stage like a dervish, is not something you can watch for an hour?

He's a cheerful little fellow, that's for sure. Never once does he become morose or heavy-hearted. And his wonder at simply being there to let these songs flow out of him in the natural way they do, is bubonically contagious. I had a good time, on a basic human level; which I guess is not entirely the point of gigs, but hey, I reckon he did too. Although I bet I didn't have his hangover the next day (thank Christ).


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Sween