Artist: Bubble 

Venue: The Peel, Kingston, London

Date:  6 April 2002 

We have never been to the Peel before and I didn’t quite know what to expect. We have heard a lot about the place and that it is a cracking venue but that element of doubt still creeps into your head as you enter a new, uncharted venue on your social calendar.

Will people look and stare, will the Wurlitzer in the corner grind to a deafening halt, you know all that silly stuff that go through your head when you are going somewhere for the first time or is that just me, being paranoid.

All doubts left me though when we ventured inside the venue there was a good a good vibe to the place and good tunes blasting out of the duke box.

Bubble came bouncing on stage about 10 ish, with a huge and deafening applause from the on looking masses. The place was heaving with bodies in every nook an cranny. They all were there for one reason and that reason came on in the shape of loads of leather and pink denim. Share (the pink bombshell) on lead guitar, her other ‘alf Bam (the pirate) on drums and new guy Tad (the geet canny blonde fella) on bass. As the new guy in the crew, he really fit in well with the band and is a cracking bass player.

First song was “Don’t Talk to Me about Her” and what a fantastic piece of rock n' roll. It was belted out with such energy that it was infectious and had the whole audience singing along with the band. It was so contagious that it had the front row up dancing instantly as if by magic, with support band "Nutrajet" joining in with the pogo-ing.

More songs from their first album were played including “Slut Motor Chopper” and “Just like Kicking Walls”. As well as their John Lennon award winning song “Sparkle Star” which also features on the soundtrack to “Dancing in the Blue Iguana”.

This song had loads of bodies dancing and smooching along to it. As did their fantastic punkie version of the Carpenter’s classic “Superstar”. This had more people bopping than ever.

The night seemed to runaway so fast it was unreal. It skipped along merrily as if everyone was under an enchanting spell and we were all having such a good time. Next came a new tune called “Easier” which Share dedicated to their good friend Danny McCormack. This went down a storm as well, as the audience screamed and applauded to their dedication. Then another new song taken from both European version and Japanese version of their CD called “Artificial Schizophrenia” to which Share did a double take and started to talk to her other self!

This song is brilliant, it is one of those songs that the more you listen to it the better it becomes. Schizophrenic or what?

One of the many highlights of the night was Share singing, “If I had a Dick” which we heard along time ago on a book….yes you read right. It is a song Share and Bam did for the soundtrack to a book called “While I’m Dead Feed the Dog”. The guys have re-released a raunchier version of it on “Rockets and Volcanoes”.

The guys and gal finished the night with an encore singing two songs, the first being “Days Like These”. And the second a crowd pleaser in the Hanoi Rocks classic about Travis Bickle, “Taxi Driver”. About 20 people seemed to descend upon the stage after and invite from Share to come and join them and a party version of Taxi Driver was sung by all on stage and off.

It’s been 18 months since Bubble were last over in the UK. And they were just as amazing as the last time they played if not more so this time. They were so tight and really played not just to entertain but to enjoy themselves too.

We had a brilliant night and can’t wait to see them again. Fingers crossed it will be sooner rather than later, otherwise we will be paying a visit to the States.

Setlist included: Sex Sells, Sparkle Star, Drug, Slut MC, Kicking Walls, Don’t Talk to Me, Days Like These, Easier Than This, If I had a Dick, Artificial Schizophrenia, SuperStar, Taxi Driver

Special Guest Reviewer:- Shen Spencer

 

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