| Mark Eitzel The Luminaire,London 24/04/07 |
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| Mark Eitzel has never cared for a conventional pop career, which probably explained why the singer/ songwriter chose to tour with no new album out. His visits to Britain are increasingly rare, however, and this was the first chance to hear tracks from Candy Ass, from 2005, an unusual foray into electronic music for the former American Music Club frontman.
Those disappointed that Eitzel didn’t take to the Luminaire’s little stage with the laptop on which he created the murky soundscapes of Candy Ass – or with any other musicians – were appeased with a set that was heavy on old AMC favourites. It delved through a decade of solo releases with deftness and included a sparse, pretty cover of Joy Division’s Heart & Soul. Most surprising perhaps, the singer, whose music and mood are most often described as morose, was upbeat from the beginning. Black humour has always marked Eitzel’s songs and he relentlessly played up their comedy element. Several were prefaced with ludicrous tales of their inspiration, which, with Eitzel’s odd, almost nomadic existence, were probably true. A riotous Patriot’s Heart was dedicated to his “good friend Sparky”, and its tragic depiction of an all-American male stripper, from AMC’s 2004 comeback album, was a masterful mix of gruff and gentle guitar parts and lyrics that were sweet one minute, almost shouted the next. Still, it was tame compared with Johnny Mathis’ Feet, an hilarious account of a self-loathing and self-destructive celebrity, performed as a pantomime Robbie Williams. A new number, Michael’s Song, came from a musical Eitzel says he is trying to write, although, alone with his battered, sticker-covered guitar, it was hard to tell where his muse may be taking him. On the album before Candy Ass he reworked AMC songs with a group of traditional Greek musicians and his urge to experiment has been the staple of his solo career. Eitzel’s engaging performance closed with two encores and cheers that didn’t stop until the lights came up. Why he isn’t filling bigger venues is a question he must ask himself every night. Review by Lisa Verrico for The Times April 27th 2007 Return To Homepage Here |