I was walking along the seafront at Brighton on the afternoon of 1st November, asking myself what was the lure of McQueen that had dragged me so far from home? I am fully aware of the fact that one of the reasons I like the band so much is because I am decidedly under-stimulated most of the time, so decent entertainment impresses me immensely. I dare say if any four girls in their age group were to jump about and sweat profusely in front of me, my heart-rate would increase dramatically but there's more to it than that!
Brighton was a nice experience. People calling me "mate" and "darling" was quite pleasant (in Teesside mate only seems to appear in the sentence "ow mate, lend us a fag" or occasional variations involving the requirement of cash to buy drugs) and the mass of white buildings and intergalactic hotels were a nice change from the endless charity shops and boarded up pubs back home.
The atmosphere at the Engine Room was amazing from the off. Those in the know had gathered to have a good time and the noisy approval received by support act Fresh Fabrik indicated that the roof would be off when McQueen played. Hayley's dad recognised me from pictures on the band's forum and stopped for a quick word; he seemed like a thoroughly decent chap and as I walked away I was hoping he had not read any of the sick jokes I had posted on there. Perhaps if he had he would have been less inclined to chat!
Numerous die-hard fans, some of whom had made much longer journeys than mine to attend, had their party heads on, guaranteeing that I had good company for the evening. The band came on to a brilliant reception and did not have to really work the crowd, the majority of them knew the songs and responded wildly from start to finish. Hot, a bit drunk and standing next to Leah's mum at the front, I had a wonderful sense of being at home during that gig, knowing that there was nowhere on earth I would have rather been.
I still find it immensely odd that a girl group from the South coast should be the one I can most relate to. If there are other young bands out there who can write powerful tunes like Not For Sale and Neurotic, and perform them like their lives depend on it, I haven't heard them. McQueen also consistently demonstrate real integrity which sets them apart from thousands of mediocre wannabes. The man in the street doesn't know who they are yet, but there are no celebrities I would rather meet. I don't even like most of the bands McQueen cite as influences. The only link to common tastes I can think of is extremely tenuous. Leah grew up liking Skid Row, and their original front-man Seb Bach once said that Unleashed In The East by Judas Priest is his "favourite album of all time." Same here although I have it tied for first with Visions Of The Emerald Beyond by Mahavishnu Orchestra.
I have always tended to be quite inhibited, when I used to front a band I felt less so. McQueen seem keen to let their audiences know that inhibition is not necessary, and encourage them to let their hair down at the gigs. Very easy in Brighton! Okay, I'm getting nowhere over-analysing why I love McQueen so I will finish with the mis-spelt words of super-fan Bisto, who described their music as, "realy great hooky tunes that i can jump around to till the end of time."
Thanks to Cath for sensual photos.
