Vamps’n’Gypsies

Bar Monsta

London, England

2 March 2007

Words & Pix By Alissa Ordabai
(SugarBuzz London)

Vamps’n’Gypsies are one of the most promising UK underground rock bands at this moment in time. Unlike many of their peers, they haven’t been struggling on the unsigned scene for an unspeakable amount of years under a different name, they haven’t been going nowhere year after year with the same live set supporting American has-beens going through the UK, and they have never put all their eggs in one basket called “glam rock revival”.

Vamps’n’Gypsies are a kind of band that will survive any trend or fad because they are natural musicians first and everything else second. Their all-embracing approach to music single-handedly combines fiery rock chops, impulsive attitude and unforgettable pop hooks, appealing to the widest possible audience ranging from students to bikers.

I went to see the band on March 2 at Bar Monsta, a snug and cosy London venue which provides an invaluable service to the British rock scene by continuing to host many unsigned acts in spite of the danger of being taken over. The atmosphere inside the club is always intimate, bringing the audience and the bands close together, and on the night this setting suited the band perfectly.

What strikes you immediately after watching Vamps’n’Gypsies live is the fact that no-one in the UK sings the way their vocalist Nikki Jones does. She is a natural performer and is not only stunningly beautiful, but is also one of the best singers we’ve got over here right now. Her style isn’t just about the strong, textured voice, but is also about the way her hundred per cent sincere heart-on-her-sleeve approach contrasts the insecurity of so many other British underground rock singers who are masking their lack of confidence and originality either by exaggerated vocal mannerisms or by trying to imitate some 1980s American singer trying to imitate Robert Plant trying to imitate Janis Joplin. In comparison to all that, Nikki’s tense and articulate style is completely original.

The highlight “Sleaze” was a proof that with Nikki you can actually hear the fire inside, the audience picking up on the flair and the energy of her voice right away. The song is about attraction and disappointment, as well as insincerity and ego-tripping that so many wannabe rock stars are prone to, and Nikki definitely doesn’t hold back expressing how she feels about a certain type of people. The song’s musical style meshed pop into rock’n’roll, and in spite of the catchy playfulness still hit hard with an intense rock thump. Nikki, who is the main songwriter of the band, certainly knows how to write fluid harmonies, but also how to create melodic tension, and she most definitely has a way with hooks. I, for one, was singing the song for hours after I got home.

“Dumped for Jesus” was another standout that spotlighted guitarist Stubio Lopez delivering a knockout solo with sweltering melody lines streaming off each chord. With Lopez, you just never know where it’s all going to go and this is how he makes his playing genuinely exciting. He knows the melody, the harmony and improvises beautifully giving the songs a different kind of lift every time the band plays live. He is a disciplined musician who never plays more notes that necessary, but each note that he does play is never gratuitous, always carrying a meaning and adding to the movement of the song.

The band’s music is as accessible as rock can ever be, time and again pouring a deliciously sweet pop coating over the hard-hitting backbone of their tunes. “Running After You” was one of those perfectly written songs that combined the urgency and the determination of rock, but also boasted sleek and shiny hooks as well as a poignant chorus giving this song all it needs to shoot up the charts once the band gets signed. And I hope they do get signed soon. After all, when was the last time we heard a rock band with awesome tunes fronted by a beautiful woman who can sing like a dream? 1970?

www.myspace.com/vampsngypsies

www.vampsngypsies.com

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