Joy Zipper, Camden Barfly, May 23rd 2008

So this was the last night of my first year at uni. Was I spending it with my fellow students? Ha, no, JOY ZIPPER were playing!

I bought American Whip on a whim a few years ago and it gradually sunk into my system as the delight that it is, but unfortunately I haven't picked up anything else. It sometimes happens. I chose the Barfly gig because I guessed that it would be a little bigger and more like a 'normal' venue after a few cramped gigs previous, and it fitted the assumption well enough. I caught one song by the first of the nights bands- luckily I might add. They seemed to fit into that Cherry Ghost, Athlete, etc. group which seemed odd for a Joy Zipper support. The next band also might have raised an eyebrow or two- Yeti, featuring ex-Libertine John Hassel. They play music indebted to 60's bands like The Kinks and The Zombies, and were actually pretty nice. They're never gonna shake the foundations of rock but they do a decent line in bluesy pop songs. Not bad for someone who used to hang out with Pete Doherty, hohoho....

Joy Zipper were pretty fun and shambolic, but lovably shambolic, like two friends having a laugh. Tabitha Tinsdale looked more spunkier and streetwise than the average indie girl, and Vincent Cafiso was reminiscent of Vincent Gallo, but with all the charm and humour that Gallo allegedly lacks. Their set was full of hushed, breezy pop songs peppered with rawer guitar sections courtesy of Cafiso. Tinsdale's vocals sounded like Kim Deal's, which is apt considering she later cited the Breeder's leader as a hero of hers. The connection was amplified by a cover of Pixies 'Wave of mutilation', which was well received by the crowd, which was followed later by Guided By Voices 'The Goldheart Mountaintop Queen Directory', which Cafiso said was one of his 'favourites'. A band of GOOD TASTE. It was pretty funny to see the couple up on stage debating which songs to play, demanding shout outs from the audience (who shrieked titles out obligingly) in a ramshackle, spontaneous manner. Often Tinsdale or the audience would suggest a song, and Cafiso would cry "Oh nooo!" like his parents were forcefeeding him brocolli. It was a humorous sight to behold. So Joy Zipper- in no way a slick, ultra tight act- and nor would would I want them to be.