18th of February
Touring her second album My Best Friend is You is Katy Perry – I mean, Kate Nash. A predominantly female crowd (some of them managed to drag their boyfriends along) gathers in Billboard the Venue to cheer her on.
Ballarat, now Melbourne resident five piece Tessa and the Typecast, are supporting. Tessa Pavilach on vocals has no problems winning the crowd over with her strong, powerful voice. Complete with cello and blow-the-crowd-away guitar riffs they leave a lasting impression, and the realisation perhaps, that Kate Nash (with song titles like Kiss that grrl and Do-wah-Doo) might be a bit tame compared to their performance.
Purple and pink spotlights light the stage, and the crew is busy setting up Nash’s keyboard that seems to be decorated with golden Christmas balls. Sound effects suggesting a storm announce Nash’s imminent arrival on stage.
And there she is, clad in a red and white polka dot tracksuit and a huge red bow in her hair; she looks like a Disney princess gone punk rock. That description seems to fit her first song I Just Love You More, too. It doesn’t sound like you would expect one of Kate Nash’s songs to sound. It has a more experimental sound to it: staccato guitar riffs, no substantial lyrics, and a lot of ‘sound effects’: Nash likes to go “Aaaah” and “Whooooow” on this song.
Her second song Do-Wah-Doo has more of a Foundations-ring to it and opens with an intro on the keyboard. Again, lyrics are shallow and disappointing: “Everybody thinks that girl’s so fine/Everybody’s like “I’ll make her mine.”/Everyone thinks she’s a bit of alright/But I think that she’s not so nice.” Really, Kate? Nothing better to write about? The chorus is filled up with pa-pada-pams and ends with a provocative “She’s a bitch”. After which Nash smiles cutely and thanks her audience (for not having run out on her, probably).
Mouthwash from first album Made of Bricks is up next. The song is popular with the girls – I mean, the audience, and is met with enthusiastic shrieks upon recognizing the intro. See, Mouthwash is sort of catchy. Too bad this song suffers from Nash’s (lack of) song writing skills as well. Take Me to a Higher Place is exemplary for Kate Nash’s typical song structure (which is easily figured out after a couple of songs). Again, a lot of ah-ah-ahs and ooh-ooh-oohs and shouting random words in the lyrics, apparently in an effort to be considered resourceful and renewing.
“This next one will be a quiet one,” announces Lily Allen – I mean, Kate Nash, as the rest of the band leaves the stage and she stays behind under bright red spotlights with her guitar. The song is I Hate Seagulls. “At this point I usually have to say: “Shut the fuck up”, but you’ve been very respectful so far,” she tells the audience. The next song is one of her very first songs, titled Birds. It’s a (surprise, surprise) cheesy love song. Several people are mouthing along with the lyrics. The huge red bow that’s still balancing on her head shakes slightly as she plays guitar.
“This is an anti-homophobic song, for the gays,” is her creative description for the song I’ve Got a Secret (guess what it is!). Up next is a poem recited to eerie singing in the background and Nash adding to the drama with big hand gestures. This is supposed to be a critique on society, we immediately understand. The poem ends in a climax to hard guitar riffs and strobe lights.
The set ends with a female in the crowd yelling out to her idol: “Have my babies!” Nash answers professionally: “Is that even possible?” She pauses and seems to ponder it for a while, then says: “But I don’t even know you!” And with that, crowd pleaser Foundations starts. Afterwards she spontaneously revisits the previous topic and tells her enamoured fan that she’s “just not ready to have a child yet.” Two tribute songs are played and miss Nash even changes outfits for the occasion (black dress with white dots – classic). A horde of happy girls had their fill of mediocre pop songs and can now go home a happy person. Kate, if you ever read this: you seem to have nice keyboard playing skills but please work on your lyrics.
– Laura Macek
