Casiotone For The Painfully Alone – The Luminaire, London 20/03/08

I’m not going to make any bones about it. I completely love Casiotone For The Painfully Alone (known to his mother as simply Owen Ashworth). His minimal rickety plonks, lo-fi fuzz and personal lyrics break my heart. And even though I’d caught him live a couple of weeks prior at the sold out Bush Hall show, the thought of seeing him play his touching brand of two-minute Casio keyboard-spun pop songs in the cosy, snug space of The Luminaire (“This is much nicer than Bush Hall. It’s like a living room with all your friends” – as claimed during the gig) was a far more tantalising prospect. It didn’t disappoint.

Tonight’s the last night of the 2 week UK tour, book ended by 2 London dates. He sets up his own gear and the crowd comically “shhh”‘s one another to quieten down before he begins. And apparently it does need to be very quiet. According to Owen, he’s going to play entirely new material this evening. Record it and release it as the new album (obviously not telling the record label who have paid him a hefty advance). Although that idea totally flies out of the window by his second track of the set when he reverts to a couple of ‘classics’ from his Twinkle Echo album. He drops the fantastically shimmying ‘Jeane, if You’re ever in Portland’ and the hazy ‘Toby Take a Bow’, which contains more Smiths references than you can shake a bouquet of flowers at.

The new songs that are performed this evening are received well to a warm and appreciative audience. ‘White On White’ sounds abundantly fresh and vibrant with it’s underlying tabla and glitch beats. ‘Ice Cream Truck’ (from the Laurel Nakadate film ‘Stay The Same Never Change’ of which Owen did the soundtrack for) takes carousel of synths which wine around deliciously. He even decides to thrown in his own unique lo-fi mumbling take on Bruce Springteen’s classic ‘Streets of Philadelphia’.

Mid-way through the set, He decides to unleash his secret weapon. That being Jenny Herbinson, who lends her spirited vocals to album Etiquette. They collaborate on the disco-popping ‘Scattered Pearls’, ‘White Corrolla’ and ‘Love Connection’ before departing. It’s her last performance of the tour (although she’s adamant it’s her last show – ever. Mainly due to the fact she makes a few mistakes and forgets lyrics but personally, the performance was all the better for it.) The two share a warm embrace before she leaves and Owen gears up for the final stint of the show and there’s no time to waste. He lays down the hits. The killers, no fillers. The crowd pleasers.

‘Young Shields’?
Check.

‘I Love Creedence’?
Check.

‘Nashville Parthenon’?
Check.

‘Bobby Malone Moves Home’?
Check.

I sometimes come away from most electronic gigs I’ve attended feeling ever so slightly cheated. It’s like I’ve just seen a guy stand there singing over pre-sampled music. A glorified karaoke performances. With no live, unique or spontaneous element conducted, the whole point of going to a live show basically. It’s clear that Owen doesn’t fit in this mould. He’s continuously twinkling keyboards and twiddling knobs and tweaking assorted electronic gadgets which are wired collectively with no macbook laptop in sight and he’s never one to hide behind his equipment, actively engaging with the crowd.

He seems in good spirits but it’s plain to see that touring and the great British weather has obviously taken it’s toll on him. He jokes about the chore of having to lug around his merchandise. A cheap, but in no way desperate, humourous ploy to encourage the viewing public to pick up a T-shirt. Sure bands need to promote their music and merchandise, but it always tends to put me off when it’s done in such a “whorish” kind’ve way.

And yes I did pick my “Casiotone For The Painfully Alone In A Yellow Tshirt” – Tshirt. It’s all yellow and everything.

Links
Casiotone For The Painfully Alone [myspace] [official site]