It is unclear whether Lazarus Kane actually flew in by private jet from Arizona to play the humble Windmill as his band mates suggested. What is clear is that Mr Kane can put on one hell of a show wherever he comes from.
Lazarus Kane feels like a southern Heavenly Records supergroup akin to what might happen if The Orielles and Working Mens Social Club were to form a band. The whole set had an infectious energy with the band opening with their only release so far, Narcissus, a four to the floor indie disco groover you can’t help but shake your hips to. With Katy J Pearson’s voice cutting through some of the heavier synths and a precussionist who looks so like James Acaster that a drunk mind may become confused Lazarus Kane commanded the audience from his first moment on stage.
For most, it would be a risky move to open with your only release but the crowd was packed with people who had clearly seen the set before and knew the words to every song already. A particular highlight was a tune which I can only assume is called “Song” where Mr. Kane tries to state that what he has written is, in fact, just a song. It has a riff that brings a smile to your face and warms your heart.
Support came from Lynks Afrikka and PVA who had played together the night before at Lynks’ “Hell On Earth” Haloween soiree and the experience held up well to a second viewing in as many days.
Opening was Lynks. Lynks is a drag act, flanked by Lynks Shower Gel, they move through a series of starical songs with heavy production. From “Str8 Acting” to the newly released “On Trend” Lynks twists the lives of the young, artsy, middle class fans who make up their primary audience into something that allows them to laugh at themselves. This is paricularly apparent in an as yet unreleased song with the hook “Art and London, that’s what I’m about” spat at the audience while Lynks Shower Gel flank them either side and the crowd shouts it back at them. A brilliant opening act for this gig but defiantely one better suited to a club setting.
In the middle of Lynks and Lazarus was PVA. The relentlessly touring dance trio have built their following almost exclusively on their live show without any music publicly released on major streaming services so far. Like Lynks PVA have a sound better suited to a club setting than an indie bar, but there was the right crowd to really bring the energy together in the right way for their set at the Windmill.
The triumph of the evening was that any of the acts could have topped the bill on a different night. People often say that there’s no community in London or that it’s hard to come by but this night did a lot do dispel at least some of that rumour.
By James Ward