The Leatherettes @ The Doghouse (Go North Festival) Dundee 06/06/08

I ran across to The Doghouse for this one. I'd been telling everyone who'd asked where I'd be at this time - there was only ever going to be one choice and that was for this band. I'd not seen them live for ages - in fact it may have been the last time Dead Earnest put them on at the Westie. I arrived just as they were starting the set, only to be blown away on a visual level before I'd even heard any of the set. First off Becca was sporting a new hairdo - black and decidedly the gangster's moll - you'd have forgiven her if she'd been wielding a gun rather than a guitar - wearing this tight mid-length dress and yet moving around that stage with venom attacking her electric guitar with purpose and letting out this awesome vocal that set the nerve ends jangling and the hairs standing up on the back of your neck. Meanwhile, co-electric guitarist Johnny - yes, just two cats on guitars - resplendent in suit was unleashing a howl of fuzz guitar over the pre-set electro-percussive programmed rhythms. A bit like a mix of early Siouxsie & The Banshees crossed with biting Jesus & Mary Chain stripped down but roaring with the energy of The Ramones, this was something that took you by the throat and refused to let go. They dedicated the second number to the recently departed Bo Diddley, called it "Bonnie Diddley" and hammered out this raging hook of a riff on the guitars with beefy rhythms as the song just scorched out of the PA, Becca's vocals becomeing ever more potent and powerful. With red hot song following red hot song, they went onto cover a Vaselines track with a vocal performance that revealed they can do commercial and even make that work too. The next track was red hot and on fire with bursts of electric guitar breaks as the vocal howls out and the chorus is decidedly infectious while the rhythm and riffing positively takes the roof off. It's solid, heavy and astonishingly stunning with Becca's vocal soaring, powerful and furnace hot. What follows has you jaw-droped as Becca downs the guitar to do just vocal and, over the fuzz riffing and electric squall of Johnny's guitar and the solid driving electro-percussive rhythm, and she just explodes with a vocal performance that is decidedly electrifying and simply awesome as she delivers the line "we're gonna break down barriers" while kicking the shit out of the actual barriers at the front of the stage. It all sears through your skull with electric intensity while the whole audience is by now leaping about and the whole scene is just amazing. A slower, more deliberate song follows that seems almost commercial by comparison, but flows and drives just the same. All that and more produced one wild and absolutely nuclear set from just two guitarists, a vocalist who sends shivers down your spine while still remaining in tune and crushingly powerful, who took control and had you transfixed from start to finish. A visual as well as an aural treat, this was mesmerising, astounding and utterly incredible stuff. "Wanted to see more factor" (out of ten) - there's not a number high enough!!

Andy G

http://www.deadearnest.btinternet.co.uk/Dundee235.htm

COME IN EARTH...

Hi martians and leatherette-ettes

Its been a while since an update so we kicked ourselves up the arse and it seemed to do the trick.

We are busy working on a whole new set of material and will be recording a 7 inch in the next few months. 

We are also recruiting a 3rd member in the shape of a drummer so things are all changing and expect a fucking explosion!

We also found out we are appearing in a Rock Documentary due for release this year, oooh the shame.

In other news, we have been busy starting up a new club night called FEVER which is fortnightly in Dundee.  The only Rock-A-Rama Bop in town! In other words, the Fonz's favourite hangout.

More updates very soon we pretty pretty pretty promise!

Love and Germs

The Leatherettes xxx

Hi abody

we will be doing a session for Vic Galloways show on Radio 1 Scotland on Wednesday 24th October.  This is part of the new 'BBC Introducing' which aims to give new bands more exposure.  The show will be on from 12am to 2am.  We will be playing 4 of our songs in the studio so get tuned in!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/vicgalloway/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/introducing/

Our Johnny Thunders EP is out Today and is a FREE download of 4 demo songs.  Head over to www.filthylittleangels.com to check it out!

tracks are:

Johnny Thunders
Born Bad
Mickey & Minnie
Betty Danger

Enjoy ,
luv

Becca & Johnny
xxx

We now have our show details for the NXNE showcase in Toronto.

We will be playing on Friday 8th June at the legendary El Mocambo, Spadina Avenue.  11pm stage time. Following us will be Therapy? and Les Breastfeeders!

We will also be at the indie music market on the 9th (at yonge and dundas square, downtown Toronto) and will be selling our music/merch.

See you there! xxx