MOG

The Forum is a venue I always associate with dance parties and more of your 3D World set, and the 3 hire cars which pulled up in front of our cab almost proved that by disgorging Eve and 50 Cent who were (along with Juliette Lewis) performing at the MTV Awards the following night.

I was more than pleased to note that we had only missed the support band (although I don't know them, and don't know what they sound like, that's terrible I know) and not missed the start of Juliette and The Licks. I was also pleased to see that the merchandise table contained not only T-shirts, but also both CDs from the band - as well as T's and CDs from the support band... maybe someone's reading these comments that I make and passing it on - I wish - as the more recent bands are actually supplying CDs and DVDs at their merchandise tables - again something I recommend.

Still, Juliette [Lewis] and The Licks. I must say that I knew nothing of this band until I read that they were coming here in Drum Media a few months ago - which is when I quickly bought tickets. I have to admit that I was initially (as I am sure others have been) attracted to the band because of Juliette Lewis herself, and the fact that she had eschewed acting to pursue a music career about 5 years ago. Of course we all assume(d) that to some degree she will be like any other actress-cum-popster and be over-produced, over coiffed and quintessentially fake. I was VERY happily proven wrong by pre-listening to her music before the gig, and it was absolutely disproved by her performance onstage.

The woman is a performer who is one part Chrissie Amphlett, one part Suzie Quatro, one part Bjork and a whole chunk of talent. She's theatrical, she rocks, she emotes, she works WITH her band (not just fronts them), she connects intimately and almost viscerally with her audience, she obviously not only enjoys but is totally into what she is doing, she is humble enough to look happily embarrassed when the audience cheers her on, and did I mention that she is remarkably talented as a singer (as well as an actress)?

With material gleaned from her two albums, she hit the stage running and, even though she took the odd 15 seconds to catch her breath, did not let up for the entire set. 2 costume changes in the set, with her trademarked 'Amerindian' persona starting the gig (they had feather-headdresses for sale at the merchandise table too), stripping off to a one-piece cut-out leotard and yellow jeans about a third of the way through, and briefly donning a sequinned cocktail dress for 3 numbers.

She (like Rollins 2 nights before) did not let up and won the 300 audience over easily. She even gave us a very rock-chick rendition of 'Dirty Deeds' by AC/DC with the apology of ("I'm sure everyone does this when they're here..."). Actually, Juliette, no-one does, and it just went to show where her music roots come from. They come from here. I'll be happily buying tickets for her next show which, according to her, will only be in about 18 months. I can't wait!