Gig review of Alabama 3

Tonight is my first experience of Alabama 3. Preceded by recommendations and my vague awareness of them through a 90's Jools Holland spot, I suppose you have to start somewhere. And here I am, stood among the congregation of interesting characters at the Academy, awaiting their arrival. To my left, a guy sporting a quiff and pirate style eye patch and to the right an elderly woman whose premature manic dancing suggests she is off her chops.

With the lights down and a mass exodus from the bar, we are eased into proceedings with a DJ set of sorts by Alabama 3 programmer 'Mountain of Love'. His tunes are much like the kind of dubbed up, beat up, sampling of blues and gospel records that got the likes of Moby and Fat Boy Slim into hot water over royalties to the original artists. A bit more straight up, more clean beats and choice spoken word samples of preachers and the like; staple of the tongue in cheek tributes to the deep south.

Fifteen minutes later and the remaining cast of Alabama 3 begin to trickle on stage in a dazzling array of costumes that says well oiled, spivy, stateside gothic chic - straight out of a Tarrantino film: if there is such a bracket. Front man Larry Love, with his silky, croaking baritone is like an Eel-pie Elvis Presley. His partner in theatrics is the Reverend D-Wayne, who cuts a figure like Ozzy Osbourne, mooching aimlessly about through the busy set. Backing singer, Aurora Dawn belts out some impressive notes alongside Love's seedy growl. The mongrel nature of Alabama 3's sound lends itself quite well to their grotesque stage show. I'm quite frequently dazzled and disorientated by the erratic light engineering, all in their hilariously camp revelry.

I'm not familiar with any of the band's output to be honest, but in no way has it hindered any of my enjoyment of the show. Of course the ubiquitous presence of Sopranos fame track 'Woke Up This Morning' is registered. Aside from this they announce the latest single, 'Jacqueline', which is a bit of a back to rock 'n' roll basics for the band. The rest of the set is in the country acid house style that they've nurtured.

Managing to skirt mainstream success on the most part, Alabama 3 are certainly an outfit that deserve a bit more attention. Their stubborn irreverence is probably to blame for this. There is a method to their madness though. Listen carefully and you'll here some really funny cultural snipes and bare heart wit that is some of the best in pop. An unparalleled live act to boot.