The Oval Space is new venue for us just round the corner. It’s like no other concert venue I have been to. It appears at the front to be some converted factory. Upstairs there is an outside bar but inside it’s totally white and akin to a wedding reception marquee that someone has put together. Minimalist it certainly is. It’s a sold out show and while we raise the average age of the audience by at least 20 years we do spot a couple of music fans older than us.
The Allah-Las are a Californian band whose traditions they wear on their sleeve. It’s 60s/70s jingle jangle, psychedelic guitar based rock. Don’t call them retro though.
It’s a low key stumble on stage especially for the vocalist and drummer who are in a high state of refreshment, three sheets to the wind. By the end of the gig after drinking most of a bottle of Jack they have a found a whole bunch of other sheets to throw to the gale.
This has no detrimental impact to the gig or their performance. Their second album has just been released and it’s a definite progression from the first while still keeping the same trippy vibe. ‘Had it All’ and ‘Every Girl’ are stand outs from the new album while ‘No Voodoo’ and ‘Tell me what’s on your Mind’ are my favourites from the first. The drummer now bearing a curious resemblance to a drunken Animal from the Muppets takes centre stage for his shout along finale and we all leave in good spirits.
It’s a great show and despite looking cool and uninterested the band are as tight as some of the jeans being worn. It’s the third time we have seen them and the venues are slowly getting bigger. So it’s back west where the jeans are baggier and razor blade sales are higher.