Live review: Basement Jaxx, Brixton Academy

Who said big girls can’t rave?

When Basement Jaxx come to town, you know you’re never going to be disappointed; they’re one of the rarities in the music-world who could play the same set year-in, year-out, and the crowd would never tire – interestingly, the supremos behind one of the world’s best-selling dance acts (Simon Ratcliff / Felix Buxton) are also more than happy to ease away from the limelight during their live shows, in place for utter hilarity, the bonkers and the crazy.

Whilst Scars, their last studio LP, may not have made the dent in the charts their previous efforts had, this tour has shown how strong their superior discography is, and how spot-on the Jaxx are in the world of modern-day dance. Essentially, the evening showed us that it was thanks to them that we have the Chase and Stati and the Pendulums of today.

Bursting in on Power 2 The People (followed by a quick homage to Nelson Mandela), itt came as somewhat a surprise that the Jaxx felt some of their strongest anthems (Good Luck, Red Alert) deserved to appear so early in the set. However everything became clear (in hindsight anyhow), that the Jaxx knew what they were doing.

A Basement Jaxx show is a fascinating experience; it exudes elements of ‘not really giving a shit’ when it comes to choreography, yet it’s choreographed to the brim; everything is just so well executed that you are led to believe everyone on-stage is simply there to party. Additionally, the bond between the vocalists (particularly Vula Malinga and Sharlene Hector) exuded such power that cheers were heard every-time someone walked onstage…. even if they only walked off one song prior. Oh, and those utterly crazy and eccentric collection of outrageous costumes – not even Stella McCartney can get away with them, but wow do they work; whilst the interaction between the crowd and the band was priceless – from a “wa’gwan Brixton?” from Hector, reminding us of her London roots, to Malinga’s “who said big girls can’t rave?”, hilarity ensued the evening.

Kele Le Roc made a [very] welcome appearance on-stage [Romeo], whilst Shakka (seen earlier this year on Wretch 32’s wonderful Blackout) gee’d up the crowd on Jump N Shout, warming into Where’s Your Head At, one of the few tracks where Buxton takes lead vocals, however arguably one of the craziest experiences you’ll have at any gig.

Steel drums, spanish guitars, eight-foot giant robots, apes running on stage, a ballerina – you could be confined to thinking there was no theme for the evening and it was left to run amok, however that was precisely the theme that earn Basement Jaxx the accolades for their live shows; it’s an all-out carnival.

With an encore that opened with one of our own favourite new Jaxx tracks, Mermaid of Salinas, the party was brought to an end after a ‘come-one-come-all’ ensemble on stage for Bingo Bango…. exciting. And that’s the thing; a Basement Jaxx gig gives you excitement and a party; you’re not left ogling at one artist on-stage, you’re joining in into the world that they’ve absorbed you in.

I’m just gutted I’ve got plans tonight so I can’t go again!