Du Blonde Has More Fun, Even With Diarrhea
Published
Beth Jeans Houghton, dropping her full name following 2012’s Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose and reinventing herself under the Du Blonde moniker, was back in the capital playing the legendary 100 Club with the same levels of confidence and musicianship that were rife in her previous work.
Channeling Karen O through some loud attire and even louder vocals, the 25-year-old Geordie’s background seems like it’s been eroded by her relocation to the US. The LA stereotype of psychedelically warped rock and roll is at the crux of her new material, which is supported visually the black and white album cover consisting of Houghton modestly sporting only a merkin.
This very album cover seemed to have been an inspiration in attracting certain audience members to her Oxford Street show. The front row was reminiscent of early afternoon Soho back-alleys, with creepy men taking as many photos of the cat-suited front woman as their phone storage would permit. Fortunately the rest of the underground venue was filled with those there to see tracks from Du Blonde’s debut – and highly acclaimed - EP 'Welcome Back To Milk', with Houghton unfazed by the gulf in the audience’s interests.
Unfortunately Samuel T. Herring didn’t make an appearance on ‘Mind Is On My Mind’ – perhaps a bit ambitious given the stacked schedule for Future Islands – but the brilliant ‘Chips To Go’ was as boisterous as its aural doppelganger ‘This Town Ain’t Big Enough For The Both Of Us’. The simmering ‘Raw Honey’ is a fittingly sweet number, and ultimately the antithesis of grungy album opener ‘Black Flag’, which delivered the best response of the evening courtesy of its impressively stormy guitars.
Despite her suffering of diarrhea throughout the show, something Houghton was remarkably brazen in admitting to, she was able to put on a fantastic, albeit short, gig. “I’m pleased I haven’t shat myself” she said on leaving the stage; a sentiment shared by those in attendance.
Everything else Du Blonde can be foundhere and via her
Facebook page. Words by Luke Forshaw
