It’s Mothering Sunday, and while the mothers of Putney are finishing off their day, the rockers amongst us are heading down to South West London’s famous Half Moon venue. Yes. the Beaux Gris Gris & The Apocalypse tour bus has arrived in town! Their new album ‘Good Times End Times’, the follow up to their debut album, ‘Love and Murder’, had just dropped two days earlier.

Hitting the stage, they kick off with ‘Heart Breaker’, ‘When My Baby Was Rich’ and ‘Have Mercy’. All three familiar to an enthusiastic crowd, followed by some new numbers, starting with ‘Watching the World Fall Down’. Mid-set the peak song came in the form of ‘Trouble is Coming’, an epic six-minute plus piece of Blues Rock fusion.

Other notable numbers included the dramatically entitled ‘Don’t Let the Bastards Drag You Down’ and their recent single ‘Fill Me Up!’ Singer Greta Valenti with her long mane of blue hair, has an air of Cyndi Lauper/Liza Minnelli about her and was in fine vocal form (the honey worked!). Greta also has her own meet and greet people routine by stepping off the stage to the dance floor on a number of occasions.

Guitar man Robin Davey throws some shapes centre stage, and has kept the ‘Hoax’ sound familiar to those that remember how unique it was. A few of those silent guitar moments appear to give some balance to their hour and half set. Powerhouse drummer Mark Barrett, also formerly of ‘The Hoax’, comes with a similar style, reminiscent of the one and only Mick Fleetwood. Mark is suitably complemented by bass man Stephen Mildwater. However, the icing on the cake comes in the form of pianist Emma Jonson.

A great evening’s entertainment with an eclectic mix of Blues, Rock and Soul. If there was time well spent during the period of recent gig inactivity, the Gris Gris have used it well. Crafting a set to keep your audience focused is an art in itself and they achieved it with all their Anglo-American colours flying high. If you missed them on this tour, be sure to catch them next time, given the gig circuit has not only been further reinvigorated, but also the fact that their latest album certainly spreads the word.

Geoff C.