100 gecs, The Ritz. 4th September 2022

Confession. I know very little about 100 gecs or their music, other than it apparently being hyperpop and my eldest being a fan. That’s why I’m here. You might read my other reviews and see that tonight’s show stands out like a sore thumb, but you’d also hopefully clock that I’ve very eclectic tastes and love live music. So truthfully, THAT’S why I’m here. To be converted… well maybe. So what’s it like at a 100 gecs gig? Well to start it’s a bit surreal. Partly because I spent a fair few hours here in The Ritz yesterday and only left at 1am this morning. The other reason is it’s fuckin mental! The duo on stage, Laura and Dylan are dressed in robes, to start at least. They’re soon discarded as it’s hotter than hell in here and their bouncing around rapping over a backing track of bouncy bonkers beats, mashed with a dizzy array of brutal sound effects. It’s a good laugh, but I’ll admit it’s not my thing. Songs about horses and Doritos with heavily processed and auto tuned vocals. What the hell do I know though, The Ritz is packed and it is going off! Never yuck another’s yum. When they start a song by banging on bits of slate on the floor, we’ll I’m all up for art house shenanigans. I don’t know any of these songs. I’m the minority. I swear every soul in here knows every word and belts it back at the stage with utter joyous abandon. Some are dressed up, some down, there’s no rules and as the set processes, fewer clothes. One mass swell of bodies, a proudly positive pit. The entire floor space is lost to it. I swear I’ve seen punk gigs struggle to garner this kind of commitment. For all the studio tricks though, there’s plenty to recognise in these tunes. ‘Hollywood Baby’ is essentially an updated 90s American frat rock tune, with a big hooky riff. That’s followed by ‘I Got My Teeth Removed’ or something like that, that sounds like something you might’ve heard played on a kazoo by a ska band on Blackpool pier in the 50s. Laura straps on a guitar for ‘One Million Dollars’ and shreds away. Walls of feedback cutting with the distorted beats. It’s like Atari Teenage Riot and I’m all in. It’s been hot in this venue all weekend, it might be about time to invest in some aircon O2! (sort out Victoria Warehouse while you’re at it too). This is the 6th band I’ve watched in here in the last 48hrs and I guess it was inevitable that sooner or later someone was gonna pass out. The response is quick, but it takes a while to help whoever is on the floor. I know venues have been hit hard and are still struggling, but The Ritz do really need to find a way to get more air in here. I’ve been to a lot of gigs, but this is definitely one of the more insane, it’s all utterly bonkers. 100 gecs are clearly not taking it too seriously, it’s just creative release. With songs like ‘What’s That Smell?’ you’ve gotta put your chin stroking muso hat to one side… and set light to it. Whatever your poison, live music is awesome! Am I converted ? Well I don’t think I’ll be buying any records, but if you like this stuff, get along to a gig, they’re fuckin brilliant!! “Gecs! Gecs! Gecs! Gecs! Gecs!”.