An Alternative to the Football

In contrast to interesting but slightly worthy book readings at Foyles, this is something we're actually very excited about. We’ve been big fans of (We are) Performance for ages, going back to a happier time when they were simply called Performance and didn’t have ugly brackets in their name.
They play a particularly striking brand of electro pop. Even better, they have genuinely intelligent lyrics and singer Joe Stretch has a novel coming out in a few months time. The band were briefly hyped a few years ago and eventually signed to Universal Records but never released an album with them. Ultimately, they released their debut album on their own label. In our view, it’s the best album of the year, bar none. If it was 2001 and Trash was still in all its pomp, they’d be massive, touring around the world and pissing on Fischerspooner from a great height by virtue of their actual talent. As it happens, they came through at just the wrong time and their “career” appears to have stalled.

Live, Joe Stretch definitely has a touch of Ian Curtis about him, but only in the sense that he is a sweaty, awkward looking dancer who captivates. He has his own style and tends to throw himself around a bit. They have an energy and a loyal fan base who have followed them since their early beginnings in Manchester through good times and bad. It’s actually quite a novelty to be able to see them play a gig of their own in London that isn’t part of a crap club night.

They’re playing at the Barfly on Wednesday night. It’s worth missing any football match for. Honestly. If you don’t believe us go here and listen to album highlight Surrender .