Review of The Ting Tings at the Sugarmill (10/04/08)

I’m not too big on karma but it certainly bit me on the arse last night. I was required to review The Ting Tings gig for the mighty rag that is The Sentinel.

Read my full Sentinel review

For my troubles I received two complimentary tickets in the post. And then the next day the same thing happened. So this meant I had two spare, comprende? So I did the noble thing and sold them to a couple of young fans outside the gig who delightfully slapped twenty quid in my hand.
Now fast forward a couple of hours after I had found a decent spot on the balcony which I rooted myself too. But hey ho, just before the band came on stage two youngsters slimed beside me and slowly forced me out of my spot. Then to my horror I realised it was the same two girls that I had sold my spare tickets too. God must have been laughing his socks off. I did consider flipping them over the balcony but then what would have happened to me. No doubt a giant Daddy Long Legs would have appeared from nowhere and ripped all my limbs off.
Apart from this bout of karma it was a decent gig. There was a long wait before The Ting Tings (pictured below) came on, and then they only hung around for less than an hour. Although they have yet to release an album so this could have been expected. Their songs were bright catchy numbers and only a deaf person could have failed to tap their foot or dance about like a raving loon. For only two of them they managed to create a decent sound. This was helped by the use of samples which were triggered by lead singer Karen White. She had a good presence on stage and skipped between instruments. She could do it all dance, play guitar, bang a drum you name it. Jules De Martino also played his part well. His main focus was the drums but he also sang and played guitar. This band has received a lot of hype and some of it is fair. They just need a few more songs in their locker and their on to a winner.

Go to The Ting Tings MySpace page

Anni Rossi (pictured below) supplied the support and it was different to all the usual boring indie tripe that’s normally on offer. It was just her with a viola for company. She plucked away while warbling along barely stopping for breath between songs. The only words she muttered within the entire performance were ‘you can buy my CD at the back.’ I wouldn’t recommend you go out of your way to see her but it was refreshing to see something a little different.

Go to Anni Rossi's MySpace page