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BAD FRIDAY!
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The Windmill, Brixton
Good Friday, 14th April 2017
3pm till late

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Gig Review

Fonda 500/ Mammal Hum
ROTA, London

Article written by Ged M - Jul 17, 2008

If I had to do that Nick Hornby thing and list my best live bands, Fonda 500 would be there in the top 5. It’s a no-brainer. I’ve seen them in all states of sobriety and in all sorts of venues (from festivals to small clubs) and they’ve never failed to delight. There was a time when everyone asked after them on the back of Teachers and the magnificent ‘Eight Track’ single but, even though they have a lower profile now, they’re still around and have a great new album (Je M’Appelle Stereo) out now. This ROTA gig distils perfectly what they do: Simon (the man with the bear bonce) is a reservoir of sarky wit and childlike attitudes to songwriting, the band are darkly funny and the fizzy songs combine guitar pop and cheap electronica the same way that R Whites mix dandelion and burdock. They have big ideas packed into little lo-fi parcels, combining great older songs like ‘Computer Freaks of the Galaxy’ with buzzy new party tunes like ‘Je M’Appelle Stereo’ and ‘I *heart* ‘Stereo Cos Stereo’s Good For Me’. Their off-the-wall inspirations and belief in the redemptive power of pop music is a refreshing change from careerist London bands. Hull’s finest animal-inspired live act, without a doubt.

Support is from another Hull band Mammal Hum, still buzzing from the fact that the answer to the question “what’s the largest town in Europe not to have a football team that has played in the highest national league” is no longer their hometown. Indiepop with an askew psychedelic edge, including xylophone, is my summary after a short acquaintance with their music but as the band were only formed in September 2007, there’s plenty of time for it to develop. On the strength of songs like ‘Mineral Vegetable’, I’m up for more.

Links:
http://www.fonda500.com/
http://www.myspace.com/mammalhum
http://www.myspace.com/thebandcalledfonda500