Gig Review: West Hill Hall Music

Before they came on stage, someone asked me what The Hidden Cameras are like. To reuse an old and suitably battered phrase, describing music is like dancing about architecture. The Hidden Cameras exemplify this point perfectly. We can compare and contrast, but, at the end of the day, we must just listen.

I once read an interview with Joel Gibb, lead singer of The Hidden Cameras, in the NME. It was back in 2004. The interviewer challenged Joel’s explicit lyrics and his ‘one track mind’, particularly in relation to ‘Golden Streams’. My faded memory tells me that Joel gave these questions an articulate brush off. To me, nothing sums up the music better. Such questioning deserves polite rejection. The rejection says more about the music than the inquiry itself.

For the most part, the sexual orientation of this man, and his sometimes-explicit lyrics, are irrelevant. The Hidden Cameras create songs with a certain beauty that transcends these oh so important details. The details are only important because they exemplify the ethos of the band. This band does not bow down to convention. It creates stunning music soaked in love.

In 2003, the album ‘The Smell of our Own’ reached 22 in the NME album charts. ‘Golden Streams’ sits on this album in first place. NME were already fans of Joel Gibb before they challenged his sexually charged content. Let’s talk about sex baby. No, let’s not. Let’s talk about you and me. Let’s talk philosophy. No, hang on, let’s concentrate on the songs. The songs are greater than the sum of their parts and should only be discussed in their complete form.

The music press does not deny The Hidden Cameras adequate attention. Yet, The Hidden Cameras shy away from large venues and the music industry production line. On Friday, I saw them at West Hill Hall, a community centre that resembles a village hall. Like many smaller, lesser-known bands, they had a table to sell merchandise from and based themselves in a venue driven by DIY culture.

At West Hill Hall, visitors can bring their own alcohol. Prejudice and intolerance are off the menu. You can be exactly the person that you want to be. That is, unless you are bigoted, racist, homophobic, chauvinistic or discriminatory in any form. I love West Hill Hall.

“I heard that The Hidden Cameras have dancing girls and audience participation’, a friend told me. Could I confirm or deny? “I only know the songs”, was my answer, “Some of them are a little risqué, but they are generally pretty mellow. I have never seen the band live, so I really can’t imagine what their stage show might be.” I have since read a preamble to the gig in the local press, and my pre-show uncertainty seems well placed.

The newspaper clipping gives us this, “Joel won't be drawn on what audiences can expect from the band's Brighton date. "I don't like having a set programme," he says. "I like the possibilities of not planning things, but we might have some decorations and maybe we'll have dancers - we won't know until we do it.”’

I hope my friend wasn’t disappointed, but there were no dancing girls. There was some Awoo, some Golden Streams, and a wide sample of The Hidden Cameras bouncier back / future catalogue. There was screeching, jumping, facial expressions and other fun fuelled antics that said ‘we sure as hell like to party’. During the first few songs, I watched an expression of bemused intrigue repeated across the room. By the end, feet and not faces were talking. Encore. Encore.

I felt I had mis-sold the band to my friend. Where did my talk of ‘mellow’ come from? Please listen to ‘Mississauga Goddam’ and tell me that I’m wrong.

Before I leave you to continue with the rest of my life, I must mention the support act Lianne Hall. Just the name makes me tingle. John Peel called her “one of the great English voices”, and her performance took me back to the days when John wrapped up music in his sweet dulcet tones. John Peel loved Lianne. I felt old as her songs took me back to different times. Only today, did I learn that Lianne Hall and West Hill Hall have synergy. West Hill Hall is Lianne’s rehearsal space.

Fabpants Recommends: Saint Thomas (aka St. Thomas).

I want the sound-lady from The Hidden Cameras gig to be my personal DJ. She was brilliant. When she played Saint Thomas she confirmed my desire to be at one with her playlist.

I saw Saint Thomas play Brighton Freebutt in 2004. Saint Thomas was from Norway. He sadly died in 2007, at the age of 31. He suffered from chronic depression, was an alcoholic and self-medicated with illegal 'purchased online' drugs. The cause of death was determined to be an "unfortunate combination of prescribed drugs". I loved the way he wanted to be Will Oldham (aka Bonnie Prince Billy).

You can find out more about Saint Thomas on this fansite

Here is a little taster for you:
Download MP3: Saint Thomas – Take a Dance with Me (sorry, this link has died)