Plenty of ‘ooohs’ and plenty of good time blues, Getintothis’ John Maher on the delights of Kitty, Daisy and Lewis at the Zanzibar.
The simple rhythm of clicking echoes through the packed space, a white spotlight pierces the floating dust – and then the soothing a cappella voices of Kitty and Daisy.
You see this band is a different prospect to most, hushing up talking punters with the weapon of their bare talents. And soon the stage fills up as Lewis, plus (the youngsters’ mother and father) Graeme and Ingrid join the party, and instruments are swapped and bashed.
It’s an astonishing sight: Korg synthesiser, huge double bass, guitar, xylophone, ukulele, used in sync while the musicians wobble around and actually have smiles on their faces. Time passes quickly as the family trio rifle through their uncompromising back catalogue. Daisy’s voice is often gruff yet enticing, Kitty’s more sultry and soft, Lewis just as seductive. What’s funny is that they talk in proper Hackney twangs, ‘bit hiya ohn va monitahh pleaz‘.
Yet these kids have absolutely nailed the look. Lewis in his sharp blue suit, Daisy with a pure black dress, Kitty in high heels – both the girls are donning red petals and all of them pristine oily quiffs.
Zanzibar seems a tight fit, as tight as those dresses, for these soul-filled ditties to crescendo into. Throughout the night the mood has been building.
By the Sea offered up some sneaky Scouse-charming epics. The Sixteen Tonnes (it is they who host The Company Store each month) effortlessly breeze along a great portion of roving rock n roll belters before Delta Maid breaks/soothes hearts with her roots-inspired acoustic champagne.
Now we are fully revved up though. Daisy is bossing the stage by bouncing stupendously and toying with the keyboard like a playful pet. A funky riff ups the pace and adds weight to all the swing, rockabilly and jazz monsters.
‘Hillbilly Music’ sums up the whole vibe, all skittering bangos and real passion. Then suddenly secret weapon trumpet player Tan Tan is unleashed, the happiest man in the building in his Marzipan shirt and Obama cap; no soul is static, we’re doing the shake in tandem.
‘Yeah, yeah, yeah,’ he belts. We belt it back. ‘Ooh, ooh, ooh,’ he grins. We grin it back. Kitty almost explodes following an extended, breathless spell on harmonica when the whole world seems to focus on her.
A constant question has to be asked: Why are KDL not as big as the Kaiser Chiefs?
Being sucked into this world is actually akin to being sucked back into the fifties, losing all self-awareness, hearing the tinkle of cocktails and the excitement of a new blues age.
