In 1994 Adam Green and Kimya Dawson formed the alternative, self-described antifolk band the Moldy Peaches. Since leaving them, Green has released six solo albums, four of which were more than coincidentally released on the 22nd of the month. With the success of his band in the Juno soundtrack, Adam Green embarks on a world tour to show what a crazy, young and somewhat talented musician he is.
Supporting Adam tonight are Noah and the Whale, a London-based band that sound nothing like their appearance might suggest. These modern, trendy, young individuals play folk music and lace their songs with hand clapping and whistling. They offer on stage a violin, xylophone, occasional ukulele and drums played with brushes, an interesting twist to a band that look like an electro-indie styled group.
They may sound like an old fashioned bunch of people, with their folksy tunes and gentle music, but their songs are deliciously pop-based and happy sounding throughout. The violin adds a touch of class and striking originality to the act. During the performance the bassist snaps his bass and wants to turn this into a massive rock 'n' roll stunt, but these kids are too polite to pull it off. The band's biggest hit is the whistling anthem Five Years Later, which is a chirpy and delightful number. After finishing their set, the crowd have doubled in size and are all geared up for the next performer.
Green's band shows up on stage playing a jarring instrumental, a good five minutes before the artist appears himself. When Green decides to rear his head on stage he does so in style, with a pair of white jeans and T-shirt laced with frills and anarchy. The extravagant outfit does not look out of place here, just mere everyday attire for the performer known as Adam Green.
He fills the stage quite neatly with his hilarious dancing and spaced out persona. Dance With Me is an ironic tune because the audience scream with delight at the thought, but who really would wish to dance with Adam when his moves are so outrageously ridiculous? New album Sixes and Sevens has thrust Adam into mainstream eyes and the crowd tonight are eager for newer classics such as Tropical Island and Morning after Midnight. Adam performs these hits like the musical star he is, but nothing can stop him from being his mischievous little self.
Adam's band leaves the stage so that the audience can have some quiet time with the main man himself. Green picks up the acoustic guitar, ensuring all frills and ties are out of the way to avoid any accidents. With a cheeky grin, he begins his solo, rather controversial song No Legs. The bouncers start to look worried as Green sings his divisive lyrics to a partially under-eighteen crowd. Green however is not disconcerted and treats us to one more troublemaker of a song, before the band return to continue the set.
Green's first encore is a solo performance of the well known Jessica, a tribute to Jessica Simpson and her lack of love for music. He is then joined again by his band in tricking the audience into believing that when they leave the stage this time, they are gone for good. But no, Green returns for a second encore. Stopping briefly for a bang on the bongos and a thump on the keyboard, Green performs a cover of Libertines song What a Waster. Despite being good friends with Carl Barāt, this acoustic cover is dedicated to the longhaired Glaswegian drunk in the front row.
For many, Adam Green is a joker, a performer who will sing drunken songs about sex and drugs and wear outrageous costumes. What these people don't realise is that Adam Green is a talented musician who can entertain an audience with more than a few silly shirts. His live shows reassure all us crazy antic addicts that Adam Green is still a nutty lyricist and stage performer at heart.
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