sun 01/12/2024

The Irrepressibles, Gabby Young & Other Animals, Barbican | reviews, news & interviews

The Irrepressibles, Gabby Young & Other Animals, Barbican

The Irrepressibles, Gabby Young & Other Animals, Barbican

An enchanting night of cabaret and theatrical chamber-pop

The Irrepressibles: Chamber-poptastic

A midwinter night’s dream at the Barbican. Those who like their pop music performed by chaps with jeans, preferably gazing at their shoes, and are attached to certain ideas of authenticity would have run screaming for the exit. The Irrepressibles were pop as icy spectacle, as dizzying melodrama, while Gabby Young & Other Animals were raiding the musical dressing-up box and emerging with bits of French chanson, German cabaret and slinky tangos, and having a ball doing it.

A midwinter night’s dream at the Barbican. Those who like their pop music performed by chaps with jeans, preferably gazing at their shoes, and are attached to certain ideas of authenticity would have run screaming for the exit. The Irrepressibles were pop as icy spectacle, as dizzying melodrama, while Gabby Young & Other Animals were raiding the musical dressing-up box and emerging with bits of French chanson, German cabaret and slinky tangos, and having a ball doing it.

It’s rather like stumbling into some underwater kingdom, ruled over by Jamie, with his suit and glittering crown

Share this article

Comments

this is not the same gig that I saw. The Irrepressibles - self indulgent, tedious and irrelevant. The choreography if thats what you call it was repetitive and dull. Every song sounded exactly the same other than 'In the Shirt' which in any case sounds like an out take from an Anthony and The Johnsons album. Jamie McDermott - no extravagant gear sadly - dressed in a slightly snug washable Marks and Sparks suit. I know coause I bought one for a mates wedding a few years ago. Gabby Young on the other hand EXTRABULOUS. She wiped the floor with one hit wonders the Irreparables.

Not seen the Irrepressibles but I know that Gabby Young does a fabulous gig. The album is pretty dam good too, was listening to again last night as it happens.

The Irrepressibles were in every sense magnificent and inspired! A Roxy Music for now, they should be huge! Unique and truly originaly they stand head and shoulders above the dull retro jeans and tshirts rock and third rate pop of now! As for Gabby Young, well the word dreadfull and appaling would be kind, why audiences applaud such utter bland artless tripe is a mystery!

Both bands were awesome. I've seen Gabby Young and Other Animals perform many times- they are consistently brilliant and this was one of the best gigs they have ever done and it blew me away. I wasn't sure if The Irrepressibles would be my type of music after hearing them on You Tube but I'm glad I saw them live as I thought they were fantastic. The music mixed with the choreography was incredibly atmospheric and powerful. An amazing night all round.

If you think that Gabby's performance was "artless trite" and "dreadful and appalling" then you'd obviously left the hall when she was hitting all those high notes, then swinging down to hit all those low ones and then up again ... Her vocal range, vulnerability/prowess, dynamics and persona/stage presence are all great...GYAOA are fan-flippin'-tastic!

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

 

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters