A Disappointing Show
New Cross artpop band The Violets have had some pretty sharp and exciting singles so it's no surprise that the Experimental Circle Club tent is pretty full for their Offset performance. Singer Alexis is a pretty formidable frontwoman, today clad in an opaque mac-like top and sunglasses, which is perhaps half suitable for the iffy British weather. The band's sultry beats and echoing guitarwork with howling vocals recall groups like The Raveonettes with razor sharp rhythms cutting through the haunting guitar moans. Alexis looks very much like she wants to be Siouxsie Sioux but doesn't quite have the eager 80's audience to lap it up and while lots of people seem to pass through the tent and enjoy a few songs, the performance isn't enough to retain the majority of the crowd for the whole duration. As individual tunes, the dark pop pieces are interesting enough, but today they just seem to run into one long blur, despite Alexis trying to engage with the crowd with some slightly provocative chat.