Innuendo Soaked Frolics For All
With their bassist now known to many as Mrs. Gerard Way it is a great shame that New Yorker's Mindless Self Indulgence are going to be continually overshadowed by who they know rather than by what they do. Indeed gaining a support slot with My Chemical Romance isn't really something that is going to banish such claims quickly but with so much talk going on sometimes the best thing to do is shut your critics up by doing what you do best, something MSI are more than capable of.
Bounding onto the stage to their own rendition of 'God Save The Queen' the quirky fun filled sass of MSI wastes no time in letting the crowd at the O2 arena know just what they are in for as a fast and furious rendition of 'Tornado' zooms past. Painfully thin and with hair spiking out in all directions, Jimmy Urine is unquestionably a showman, bouncing around the stage and leaping from drum set to speakers in one easy step, baton mike waving continually throughout. With hook laden tracks like 'Shut Me Up' and What Do They Know' injecting a frantic burst of energy into the mix, MSI prove that they have the music to back up their antics with even the funnily provocative 'Faggot' and 'Bitches' still managing to pack a punch along with delivering a dancing beat. Ultimately though this is a band that thrives on the live stage with Jimmy and co devilishly quipping each line with an innuendo and hurling themselves into everything they do. At one stage bassist Lyn-Z even puts her life into the crowds' hands, stage diving into the sweat drenched masses with the only hint of aid coming from Jimmy's request that whilst she's there she may as well go and get some fish and chips before sharing with all his own take on Spice Girl's 'Wannabe'.
Yes, this is a band that are very much about having a good time whatever the consequences and as the addictively intoxicating beats of closer 'Straight To Video' welcomes some true fist punching moments there is no doubt that whatever their connections now are this is one band that know how to entertain, a band that radiate energy and fun and deserve to be taken seriously on their own merits, even if they refuse to view themselves in the same light. After all, what other rock band ends with the lead singer and guitarist campily miming to 'There's No Business Like Show Business'?