image: Simon Parfrement
Once again, the Masonic Lodge abandoned the pomp and rigour of its usual occupants, and opened the doors to the riff raff scallywags of Nottingham town for one night and one night only. The Invisible Orchestra were set to take our tiny little minds firmly in one hand and blow them right into the stratosphere with the brass instruments in the other, to celebrate the release of their debut LP, Champagne Taste Lemonade Money.
Arriving fashionably late (around 10pm), myself and my party partner all but hopped, skipped and jumped up the grand staircase to gerra pint in before the main event, making sure to dob a fair few quid in the collection bucket for the Refugee Action Nottingham as we went. Passing painted portraits of silver-topped white blokes, a mischievous sort of feeling bubbled in our tummies – a “We shouldn’t be allowed in here” type affair. A dangerous start to an evening, but no doubt one planned by the rowdy lot that we’ve heard the ‘Orchestra are.
We moseyed on over to the main stage, only to have our senses physically assaulted by the enormous sounds of The Comet is Coming. The London three-piece consisted of one epic drummer, who wove elaborate rhythms through the techno/keyboard/synth stylings of the kaftan-clad front man, and an incredible saxophonist who was shredding riffs like one wouldn’t, and couldn’t, believe. Utter chaos. A reggae/dub/ska/techno/soul fusion that had literally everyone dripping with skank-induced sweat.
There was just time to queue at the ever-ram-up bar to stock up on the ode disco fuel before packing ourselves in at the front to catch the main event. A huge double bass, drum kit, brass section, string section, Hammond organ, electric guitar and bag of microphones were jostled onto the stage, followed by the twenty-man-plus-deep band. Bellies bubbling with beer and excitement, we howled and wooped with the best of them as the force of nature took to the stage, fronted at first by a mask-wearing Hannah Heartshape.
Crooning jazz vocals soar over our heads as Ms Heartshape serenades us with No Time Like the Present Time, a seductive entrée to TIO’s new repertoire. The absence of Harleighblu was a slight sting to the rear, but Rachel Foster’s stage presence more than made up for it. Belting out some proper sexy tunes, once she’d done her bit, a proper graceful raise of her handbag was all she gave us. That, ladies and gents, is class.
A huge topping of the metaphorical hat has to be given to the absolute legend that is Percydread. There’s no question that War is perhaps the standout track on the new album, and it went down an absolute bleddy storm with a crowd hungry for all the swagger Percydread was handing out in great flumes.
Scorzayzee took the mic, and treated us to an Invisible Orchestra-stylee remix of Diamonds are Forever, to which Mr Switch on the decks started turning those tables mad fast, crossing his hands and spinning round in between scratches. Smooth. Criminal.
All too soon, the final notes were played, picked and strummed. There were flames (all be them small) erupting from the Hammond organ, and screams and yelps erupting from the crowd. James Waring, founder of TIO, grabbed the mic and announced, “We don’t do encores. Let’s get fucked.” And, like the conformists we are, we bloody well did to the glorious sounds of Mr Switch.
The Invisible Orchestra played at The Masonic Lodge on Saturday 4 June, 2016
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