I still can't believe how much fun i had last night. "Way too much fun", as scott might say. Yesterday was pretty cool, too. Let me tell you about it.

I got to ULU about 1, because i hadn't got a ticket and i wanted to make sure i could get one.....all of which went fine. Then i saw there was a record fair in the ULU so i might as well check it out. As i was looking through the CDs, i noticed a really familiar looking guy looking the the 12"s......as he walked passed me i stopped him and said......"Eli? It was indeed Eli, and as i've e-mailed him a couple of times i introduced myself. still in a state of shock, i go back to looking at records, and Johnny walks in, sporting a wicked new hairdo.....i said hello to him too....and he seemed really nice.....he was buying some obscure reggae 12"s.

Went around London, got back for the gig. I was wondering how well this GVSB gig was advertised. When the first support act, Broccoli started, the place was nearly empty. Scottish Trio Broccoli were nothing special - another pop-punk band who uses the G/D/Em/C chord progression way too often. You just stand there, knowing you've seen this band a hundred times before. To make things worse, Broccoli added little originality to the mix, and only the instrumental interested me. But, nevertheless, they played reasonably tight. But to be honest, Brocolli would have to change their very typical style if they are ever to get anywhere.

The second support act, replacing Delta 37 were Superior. What this band has in common with GVSB completely escapes me. They were simply a bad pop band. Sometimes you got the feeling that their lead singer really wanted to sound like Morrisey. Most of their songs, like Broccoli, indicate a common stream of unoriginality you always find in the music field. Some blokes might talk complimentary about Superior because they wanted to raid the female singers pants. But you will not get that shit from me. Superior? Inferior more like.

Finally, at around 9.30, GVSB took the stage. By this time the venue had filled up, although it wasn't a really packed atmosphere. I was just in front of Eli, and was really lucky as i actually had some space so i could actually dance. GVSB started with Park Avenue, and live, the effect of that intro is even more effective. As one might expect, GVSB played a flawlessly tight set. Eli was jumping around like a maniac.....almost smashing his head on the keyboard at times.....and yes, there was his sweet angelic vocals too. Scott sexily attacked his microphone and thrashed away at his guitar. A more stationery Johnny provided some strong basslines, and Alexis was pounding away behind his kit. The new material really was made to be played live. The use of keyboards and samples has really taken the bands' sound to a new level. Songs like Exorcisto, Roxy, Cowboy's Orbit show that GVSB can no longer be pigeon-holed. The new material, especially live, reeks originality and excitement. And of course......it's sexy. To be honest, i wasn't really watching the stage very much. I was just too busy dancing to that GVSB thing. Apart from the new stuff, they played lots of old favourites, and a couple of surprises. They played a Freakonica style version of Life In Pink, which went down really well. We got sexy sam, too. They played a great deal of House-era stuff - VeraCruz, Disco 666, Superfire, TheKindaMuzik, Crash 17....i can't remember if they played any more. They also played some classic earlier stuff, which really pleased the more hardcore section of the audience. Quite a few Venus Lux tracks......i can never remember the names of tracks of this album.....but they played In Like Flynn.....which was really cool too, but no Rockets are Red. What made this night so delightful was that GVSB played for quite a long time.....about 90 minutes. After ending with a manic kill the sexplayer, they returned for an encore(the 4th track of Venus Lux), and something else i can't remember. By that time i was totally satisfied..........it was truly the best gig i ever went to. I really shouldn't write a review for this.....i can't really put into words how it made me feel. I was too into the music to really notice what was going on apart from that. And as most of you know and love the music they play, you can guess how good it was for me. To really enhance everything, GVSB take their songs to a new dimension live. They aren't afraid to experiment too, as they did with the excellent life in pink. To make everything even better, the ULU was a really intimate venue. No barriers, no visible security. nothing really between the audience and the band. sometimes i'm glad GVSB aren't getting more successful....but to be honest, last night was testimony that they really do deserve some success. There is so much potential there, but you feel that Geffen will have to think and act very carefully if they are to get the band to the audience it deserves.

After the gig, there was this cool aftershow party, with Eli and Johnny DJing. They really looked like they were having a good time. Chatted to Brian Molko of Placebo, who said GVSB were his favourite band. Mark Keds(Jolt, Senseless Things) was there too. Just before i went, i saw scott surrounded by girls, and went up to chat to him. He was the most unbelievably nice guy. I was so in gratitude to him for all GVSB had done for me that i gave him a big hug. sweet. He was saying he would really have loved to play the b-sides of Disco SixSixSix live, but there wasn't enough time. pity.

anyway, i haven't really come down yet. sorry about the shit review. i can't review gigs like that. it was just flawless. if you get the chance, see GVSB. Get cool,get sexy. get into gvsb thing and hit that floor.