At the end of November, French glam-rock band Fat Bottomed Boys released their new album, Haters Gonna Hate. It’s celebration time at the south-London pub Fighting Cocks: live report.
After a first date in Paris, the rock band took the road for a second release party for their latest record, Haters Gonna Hate. And they’re not the only ones. From the north of England or Chicago, loyal and fervent fans have also travelled for them, charmed by their energy and their Queen-like sound. Humble, the band doesn’t pretend to have the same span. But they still want to hold their promise to pour all of their energy in.
In front of regulars, friends and onlookers, the show opens with Rubik and the Cuboids, with a smile and a lot of cool covers. From The Bangles to Blondie, the classic pop-rock setlist is setting a great mood in the room. The band has a great cohesion and I would have loved to hear some original tracks too.
Fat Bottomed Boys then make their stage entrance with a certain panache. Military jacket, leather, sunglasses and touches of gold, they want to bring it up. And the promised energy is met indeed. The stage is even too small sometimes, and a couple of guitar solos happen in the pit.
The technique is, as expected, fantastic, exact, and precise, and for all aspects: guitar, vocals and the overall sound quality of the gig. And the numerous guitar solos in their set are another proof of their mastery. And even in the calmer instants, made of ballads, they keep an electric sound. The ukulele, or is it a guitar that shrunk in the wash as they joke, may appear but won’t change that fact.
If the stage is small, their presence isn’t. Lively and bold, Fat Bottomed Boys are also showing a lot of autodérision, or self-depreciative humour, and charm their audience with their sincerity. It only takes a couple of seconds for the public to be enamoured with them. Humour and glamour are a match. Fat Bottomed Boys are vibing in their glittery outfits for over an hour, giving soul and body to the art and stage.
Now, it would be really enjoyable to see them on a much bigger stage, as they’ll gain confidence in the numerous aspects of their show. A lighting made of strobes and some added gimmicks would suit them well too. But in this bare and simple context, they do present all their energy, glam and honesty. And really, that’s all that’s needed.