22/12/2009 The Wildhearts & AntiProduct @ Islington Academy

Subject	The Wildhearts & AntiProduct @ Islington Academy
PostedDate	12/22/2009
	This is one of the best touring bills of the year as far as I'm concerned, although I'd be excited enough just seeing the headliners.  Things don't get off to a good start though as The Loyalties go on so early that I can't get there in time to see them.  Apparently I wasn't the only person to have that problem as I hear the room was half empty for them. As I arrive I'm told they've just finished their set. I'm gutted - especially as I had to leave early and miss half their set at the 12 Bar Club a couple of nights ago thinking I'd be seeing them tonight anyway.  I'm particularly interested to see the next band as it's several years since I've had a chance to see them - and there have been many changes in the AntiProduct camp since then. One thing hasn't changed - AntiProduct are still a great live band! It's difficult even for followers of the band to tell exactly who is in the band at any one time, but Alex, Clare, and Milena remain from the lineup who recorded the previous album. New bassist Mandi has only been in the band for about a week - and now she's on tour! She looks the part and seems to fit in well though. The amazing drummer Denzil has been 'borrowed' from Ginger's band for this tour and is a very popular addition. The addition of an extra member in the form of a guitarist is a surprise as Alex is a pretty mean guitar player himself - maybe he wanted to be free of his guitar to concentrate on fronting the band? Obviously the new album 'Please Take Your Cash' is heavilly featured, along with a few old favourites - but a few old favourites have appeared on the new album too. Apparently they are selling well on the merch stall, but I'm sure they'd sell more if they didn't charge so much for it.  The band make much of the fact that they are 'cutting out the middleman' and selling/promoting/distributing (post only) themselves with no record company or anyone else taking a cut. So if I can buy the latest Wildhearts album online for about £8 and both the retailer and band are making money from it, why do AntiProduct expect us to pay £15 for their album with no one else even taking a cut of the profits? Apart from the lineup changes, there is a change with crazed frontman A.Product as well - a skin condition probably caused by years of wearing heavy makeup on stage every night has caused him to have to stop wearing his usual 'face'. Nothing has changed with the energy of his manic performance on stage though and he is definitely still one of the best frontmen out there. And he really is 'out there'.  I'll miss him leading the crowd in chants of "Fuck George Bush!", but it's worth it to get rid of him and get Obama in. Let's hope we don't have to wait so long to see AntiProduct back again... The Wildhearts are on fire at the moment. The shows they are playing this year must be the best they have ever played. They really seem to be riding on the crest of a wave, with great reviews for both their gigs and latest album 'Chutzpah!'. I can't believe my luck being able to see the band three times in about twelve months without having to leave London - and I got to see them at Sonisphere as well! Â The set kicks off with 'Vanilla Radio' and the place goes crazy! Naturally we get some cuts from the latest critically aclaimed album tonight as well as plenty of the old classics and a few rarities and B-sides. It's great to see them in this much more suitable venue than the confines of Shepherds Bush Empire with it's shit sound and inadequate bar facilities.  The atmosphere is brilliant as usual, with loads of people singing along very loudly even to the newest songs - it's impossible to not have a good time! This is definitely (along with the earlier 'Chutzpah!' tour and Ginger Birthday Bash) one of the top gigs of 2009.