Envy & Other Sins
It’s unusual for a venue such as the Joiners to attract a crowd of such sorts before doors open and it clearly became evident that a band of high stature were to be gracing Southampton this evening. Forget Champions League semi finals, the much talked about Envy & Other Sins were set to perform, and football shirts were nowhere to be seen.
Entering the stage dressed in pompous waistcoats and fancy scarves, Envy & Other Sins retain their title of campest act (bar Mika) and perform to a rowdy Southampton crowd. Flashing light shades and coat hangers surrounding, the fashionable quintet perform track after track taken from their debut album under A & M records “We Leave At Dawn”. You’d be forgiven for almost instantly questioning their gimmick appeal, with the stage set up and attire, yet these guys didn’t win career creating channel 4 band competition, knocking out firm favourites Revenue, for nothing.
The set was critically short, but the highlights stick with audience members to this day. Catchy choruses in “Talk o Strangers” “Almost Certainly Elsewhere” and first single “Highness” were evident hits, provoking the crowd to sing back in time and tune- markedly to the bands approval. Bassist Mark could be mocked for his perfectly shaped moustache- possibly an over compensation for the ‘insignificance’ portrayal of bass players, but his performance left nothing to be desired. Thoroughly enjoying themselves, the band managed to banter continuously with the Southern crowd; thanking specific members for citing lyrics and at one point, we were blessed with Al’s nipples.
Not a patch on Liverpool Arsenal I hear? I have to strongly disagree. With immediate response negative, I was extremely impressed that not only was their set pleasing, but I found I actually really enjoyed myself. And so did they. Which is the important thing obviously.