Peaches rocks and blows the NME Awards show

Even if you’ve got the rose-tinted dumbing-down shades on, this year’s NME Awards have failed to fulfil the promise of the previous years. It is truly not down to them but the quality of artists, songs, biz, all-together. But, tonight is the show that may tip the balance… And, it is mainly ladies providing the entertainment.

Therefore, even before Peaches appears, a test-projection of her picture is greeted with a mini-ovation. The moment she hits the stage, it is a carnival of multicoloured sounds! Standing alone and backed by tapes (and a couple of guitar parts), she commands our attention with a show that bridges time frames.

The woman has cornered a niche of industo-disco rock-performance: imagine Nine Inch Nails produced by Giorgio Moroder and fronted by a multiple-personality that morphs Jim Morrison and Michael Jackson with Marc Bolan and Alice Cooper. Add to that her explicit femininity and you have - an orgy for senses!

Iggy Pop was there via a projection for a duet of ‘Kick-It’. By the end of the third song, ‘Shake Your Tits, Dicks & Bits’ - okay, 'Shake Yer Dix' - Peach-girl has disrobed and will continue to utilize costume changes in an amusing manner but for the shocking value, albeit hers being minimalist attire - not even Americans would complain, after Janet Jackson’s boob at the Super Bowl.

In comparison with Peaches, Pretty Girls Make Graves played a straightforward rock support although they are far from a regulation rock outfit. Singer Andrea Zollo predictably delivered more convincing show than the last time they visited London, due to being free of illness she suffered then. [Link left to our Review.] Actually, tonight they play like headlining and that’s how it should be - you wanna usurp the top billing!

These two ladies were supporting The Distillers, the band that are rightful heirs to Hole and Brody Dalle is this generation’s Courtney Love. Perhaps the time is right as the former ‘Queen of Grunge’ has transformed into… who knows what.

The bottom of the bill came courtesy of Eagles of Death Metal, an outfit for whom John Homme drums, and thus fuelling rumours that Queens of the Stone Age are no more.[It turned out that Nick Oliveri is out but the band is still on.] Anyway, Homme should have taken a lesson or two from Dave Grohl on the skins… Also, doing ‘death metal’ version of The Eagles songs. [It could have sounded a good idea after several spiffs but… the one-liner ain’t funny.] EoDM played a warm up-show the night before (at the Met Bar) and Homme’s girlfriend Dalle was there, as well as Mellisa Auf der Maur.

Talking about her, thank Buddha, this year’s NME series of gigs will finish with addition of Auf def Maur’s show at Islington Academy in London on 16 February. The former Hole and Smashing Pumpkins bassist’s eponymous solo album [due out in March] full of rockingly pop gems. And, she is not trying for the oculars, either.

NME Awards show (remaining) dates:

13 February - Barrowlands, Glasgow
14 February - University, Leeds
14 February - Academy, Birmingham