Juliette & The Licks, ABC, Glasgow
Bare boned rock n roll fronted by a singer possessed by the satanic power of punk.
What you see is what you get with The Licks. Stripped down, bare boned rock n roll fronted by a singer possessed by the satanic power of punk. So what if the lead singer is also bona fide Hollywood royalty – in this context you forget all about that and see Juliette as a genuine contender alongside all the other women in rock music.
The ABC in Glasgow is an ideal venue for a band that are still in the birthing stage of their career; they are still in love with the idea of being in a rock band, putting on a show for their fans (and what a show they put on) and talking to the audience. Countless times Juliette or a Lick shouts "Glasgow!", met with cheers every time.
Highlights include 'Hot Kiss' (the audience went absolutely crazy), 'American Boy Vol. 2' ("this is a song I wrote about an American Boy," Juliette tells us plainly), 'You’re Speaking My Language' and the rocktastic 'Sticky Honey'.
A formidable live presence, Juliette oozes a mesmerising and her vigorous performance overshadows the absurdity of her lyrics. She should not be included alongside Russell Crowe or Keanu Reeves as Hollywood fuckwits with their own bands because if the gig at the ABC proved anything, it’s that The Licks are 'for real'. If they continue to play with as much passions as this, then the uninhibited cult of Juliette & The Licks is sure to grow.Kirkland Ciccone
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