THE MOONLANDINGZ - GORILLA, MANCHESTER
30/03/17
We all know that Lias Saoudi isn’t one to hold back when it comes to his eccentric live performances – whether it be during his soul-bearing, almost seemingly agonising performances with The Fat White’s or after he’s scrawled all over his torso in red sharpie to complete the grubby, yet oh so glamourous aesthetic of his narcissistic alter-ego Johnny Rocket, frontman of The Moonlandingz.
Now, Gorilla is a dank, sweaty little venue at the best of times – but even more so as a crowd of deranged twenty-something’s and the dads of course, indulge in Rocket’s hedonistic theatrical performance. From the sultry drones of Vessels to the manic ringing of Sweet Saturn Mine in your ears as the show draws to an untimely close. This is a band at the top of their game before they’ve even begun – not to forget that they are in fact, completely fictional.
Every member of the band is a formidable musician outside the world of The Moonlandingz. This raw energy and sheer passion exudes from their debut straight onto the stage in a spectacularly grubby yet polished fashion. But perhaps the most striking thing about this melting pot of some of Britain’s best underground talent would have to be that they seem to have stumbled upon the formula for the perfect pop song – despite the fact that everything they do is dripping with satire.
It must be said that Saoudi must be held up as one of the greatest frontmen of this generation. It Is as if he rejoices in the absurdity of his performances – and as do we! He is completely unphased by the carnage right in front of him. I mean, most egotistical modern day “rock star’s” would struggle to execute such a performance without coming across as a cringe-worthy shell of their former selves. But Lias pouts and pirouettes around the stage whilst violently jerking from pillar to post with the poise of an old pro.
MUSIC
words: ABBI PARCELL