You would think that playing for a maximum of 100 people would generate some kind of intimate atmosphere, but sadly Cornershop never really bonded with the audience. This was not all the band’s fault although the bands communication with the audience was at a minimum and lead singer Tjinder Singh never seemed to enjoy the hour long gig, the audience was quite literally boring for a Saturday night crowd.
Having just released a new album ”Judy Sucks A Lemon For Breakfast”, the gig was naturally a mix of old and new tunes and the highlights from the new album included ”Who Fingered Rock N Roll” and ”The Roll Off Characteristics (Of History In The Making” and the psychedelic ”Free Love”, although it was the massive 1997 hit ”Brimful Of Asha” that got the largest round of applause.
The band also played a very good version of local heroes The Beatles’ ”Norwegian Wood” with Tjinder Singh singing the lyrics in Hindu, creating a new and exotic experience of the song.
The whole evening was dominated by one thing in particular; the band’s sitarist, Adam Blake, who managed to have everyone enchanted by an instrument that is undervalued in modern pop music.
The set opened with a jam where each band member (8 in all) joined in one after the other, and closed the same way. At this time, people were cheering, but no encores were given, and the band didn’t come out to say goodnight. Bassist James Milne was up for a chat though, as well as selling a few bits of merchandise, and the band was in good spirit when loading the van, preparing for their last gig at the Kendal Calling Festival, after a good ten days on the road.
All in all, Cornershop didn’t really provide much of a show, but the music speaks for it self: this band is still exiting and innovative.
”Judy Sucks A Lemon For Breakfast was released on July 27.
Review by Ida Ottesen.