So how did you spend the last few hours of the 13th Baktun? Given the likelihood of the impending destruction of the Earth, I chose to kick start this season of Festivus a little early at London’s Scala and there is nothing that expresses this better than zombies.
If you are not aware of the works of EMMA-LEE MOSS and TIM WHEELER, both are recording artists in their own right. Emmy the Great having released two albums, a couple of EPs and also singles, and Tim Wheeler maybe more familiar as a member of the band ASH.
Tonight’s gig sees the duo perform the whole of their 2011 release “This Is Christmas” and is exactly what is required from a modern Christmas album: slick wall-of-sound vocals with bittersweet Americana melancholia, mixed with a schmaltzy dark humour. It would be all too easy to get this wrong and it’s probably not to everyone’s taste, but it’s a lot more palatable than the Christmas turkeys of many other artists.
The set follows pretty much in track order, interjected with various Christmas classics. Highlights from the album set were “(Don’t Call Me) Mrs. Christmas,” “Zombie Christmas” and “Jesus The Reindeer.” Covers performed included Wham’s “Last Christmas,” East 17’s “Stay Another Day” and the best Christmas song ever written “Fairytale Of New York” by The Pogues / Kirsty MacColl.
Overall, the band look like they’re having fun and the crowd are certainly in the spirit of the night, as demonstrated by the number of crimes against fashion committed by those wearing cheesy Xmas jumpers.
I recommend you at least sample the tracks or spoil yourself and download the whole album for just a fiver.