As cramped as the Buffalo Bar is, as dingy and, its downright grotty littered walls with stickers and beer soaked plaster falling to the floor- you can’t help but think it’s architecture has been meticulously devised to house bands like The Ettes. And they pack a devastating punch. The Ettes show is exactly what my system needed to get over a tedious day!
As the ArtRocker night proceeded, another bland all girl electro band plays and pass, never stepping out of the boundaries to make any lasting impression, in fact their name cannot even be dissected from my memory. But this is all about Los Angeles trio The Ettes tonight, and their steely licks and brash punk bravado, not a nondescript wailing all girl band.
The Ettes Lindsay ‘Coco’ Hames streams sublimely tort vocals that would have befitted CBGB’s way back when the streets of NYC were paved with drunks, clothes-horsed-model-artsy types but more importantly a bunch of potent musicians that influenced many musician that ply their trade now. Everything about The Ettes seems to fit this artistic mould.
There’s a distinct whiff of feminism tonight, that not only stops at Coco and drummer Maria ‘Poni’ Silver but Jeremy ‘Jem’ Cohen (the only man in the band) seemingly camps up the stage, although maybe not wholly intentionally. But, his strong bass lines are studiously carried out all night, so we can maybe forgive him.
Their set paddles through the infectious ’You Can’t Do That To Me’ and ’I Get Mine’ evokes memories of classic 60s rock buffered by Coco’s sassy and soulful howls. ’No Home’ has Jem’s hugging fuzzed-up basslines yet again proving potent fixture in The Ettes sound. And ’I Ain’t You’s once again is all about Coco’s sublime vocal input.
And overall The Ettes are as arty as a Shoreditch twat with thick rimmed glasses who has 20/20 vision, they’re slick garage punk purveyors and we love them. Its just not sure that they would be as effective outside the dingy indie bars they currently frequent at this time. As they rock venues like the Buffalo with consummate ease and style!
