You can generally expect to see a few sights down Brick Lane. One thing you don't see everyday however is a Delorean parked up outside Rough Trade East. Neon Neon, the pairing of SFA's Gruff Rhys and Boom Bip, aren't deliberately trying to mess with the heads of East London. As you may well know their recent, now Mercury Prize nominated, long player Stainless Style revolved around the life of one John Delorean. After a slight delay Neon Neon take to the stage introduced by Gruff in a David Bowie, circa Aladdin Sane, mask. The sound of 80's synth's accompanied by Gruff's hushed vocals translate perfectly well in a live setting. Gruff is generally a fairly casual and relaxed frontman, the Neon Neon live experience truly hits 88mph when Har Mar Superstar joins onstage. You've got to applaud a man who's built a career around being fat, spouting fairly bad rhymes and break dancing. Even Boom Bip can't stop a smile when Har Mar pulls off his now standard head stand. Whether Neon Neon develops into more than a one-album side project is yet to be seen, there must be more 80's fallen icons lives to soundtrack? Sir Clive Sinclair perhaps? If it inspires a set of songs to the standard of those played tonight, you may yet see a C5 parked in Brick Lane.
