Tron Funk

Neon Neon + Yo! Majesty, Leeds Brudenell Social Club, 01/11/08

Side projects, like spin-off sitcoms, can be dodgy territory. But when Gruff Rhys is involved, you know you’re in safe hands, right?

In Rhys and the Super Furry Animals you have one of the most prolific and creative bands around – The Beatles of this generation if you believe Gary Lightbody. But realistically they’re about as popular now as they’re ever going to be. Over the past couple of years the offshoots have immerged in the shape of Acid Casuals, The Peth and two solo albums from Rhys. But it’s with Boom Bip collaboration Neon Neon that Gruff has got the most attention.

Yo! Majesty’s support was surely the closest thing you were gonna get to seeing Missy Elliott in a working men’s club. Shunda K and Jwl B pointed us out one by one and coaxed the crowd closer to the stage, while some random bloke jumped around at the back pressing buttons. I’ll admit, before tonight their track on Stainless Style was probably my least favourite on the record. But having that attitude at eye level changes your perspective. The beats were hard, the rhymes were fierce and very, very fast. The audience were suitably warmed.

Neon Neon gather on stage to much devotion, egged on by Gruff’s “Applause” cue card, and begin with the Tron-funk of ‘Neon Theme’. Throughout the night mathematic colours and shapes light up the screen behind them like a malfunctioning Amstrad on an old edition of Tomorrow’s World. The whole evening could have been an extended edition of Look Around You. Gruff Rhys does have something of the confused Physics teacher about him. The band were expanded to include the effortlessly cool Cate Le Bon on Keytar and Har Mar Superstar on break dancing duties.

‘I Lust U’ and ‘Told Her On Alderaan’ - two perfect examples of Gruff’s knack for a catchy tune - were brought out early. This breezy electropop could have been the soundtrack to any number of Brat Pack road movies. For an album that was never meant to be played live, some of the songs just sound better, helped by the fact that Neon Neon play like they’d been together for years. The seedy bassline of ‘Michael Douglas’ got the most crowd shuffling (“I need…more…STUFF”) and then ‘Sweat Shop’ brought back Yo! Majesty to pack out the tiny Brudenell stage for a brutal dance-off.

At the very end there was just Rhys and Bip on stage together in a mini techno workout. Gruff played the invisible drums with some magic glowing sticks. Chances are this is the last we’ll hear from Neon Neon, but in any case it was a celebratory finale to a project that probably was more successful than anyone thought it would be.

DiS