| RACHEL STAMP LIVE... |
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| Mmmmmm, love the new hairdo, Robin! |
| date july 2000 event breeze festival venue temple newsam, leeds |
| Who were the audience in front of the Breeze main stage waiting for? Rachel Stamp. Why? Cos they love 'em. Yep, they adore this band so much they brave horrible weather conditions (well, it is the UK) to see their heroes in glitter. And you thought they were here to see the Bradford-based headliners, Terrorvision... Chants of 'Robin!' echo round the mudbath that is the pit of the main stage. The heavily eyelinered crowd fiddle with their lovely candy bracelets, staring beyond a pink Tamba drum-kit. Something is emerging from the deep, dark depths of the curtains. Vocalist and bassist of the glam-rock, power-pop foursome, David Ryder-Prangley, struts forward to greet the masses amid hysterical screaming for the pink haired drummer, Robin Guy, who's just crept on stage. Seconds later, guitarist Will Crewdson and keyboardist Shaheena Dax walk sulkily on. The screaming for Robin continues. The crowd go mental at the sight of this band: they haven't even played a note yet. David green-haired-and-clad-in-a-lacy-dress-and-nowt-much-else Ryder-Prangley is bewildered with the turn out. Dreadlocked Will and Canadian born Shaheena stare at the the crowd with the hugest of huge pouts. Robin busies himself with arranging the feather boa and sunflowers on his drum-kit... The set they play over Robin-obsessives consists of five songs: two bsides and three off their most recent album, 'Hymns for Strange Children'. What a kick-ass title. Chat with the audience is minimal as most bands have been pushed for time (rain caused 'much delay'...) but what is said causes much amusement :) All goes well until some *idiot* (severe understatement!) disrupts things by throwing a bottle at David's bass. Guess who's not a happy bunny. However, despite all being in (apparently) reserved moods from the start, they resume and end in a spectacular set with a spot of pole dancing from David. So despite the pouring rain and lack of decent food, I still left the site smiling, knowing I'd just seen one of the most entertaining and exciting live acts to have hailed from these shores in a very long time. |