Words & Photography by Maisy Banks
And so we enter through the streets of Camberwell into the palatial St Giles church, with grand promises of an evening described as ‘Michael Clark vibes - a proper punk music and performance night’.
As a venue I’ve only previously visited for dulcet folk, lilting jazz and other seemingly expected happenings - though I’d heard the rumours of the chaos of the the famous St Giles organaoke - I wasn’t sure what to expect from an event put on by our new favourite punk queen in the local parish church.
But, of course, all grand promises were more than met.
Curated by the aforementioned favourite punk queen, come DJ come dancer come multifaceted formidable force Jeanie Crystal, her band Jeanie and the White Boys launched their debut single ‘Big Udder Blues’ alongside bewitching performances from Island Girl, Evil Kebab, Barbs, and The Lilith Scream Choir, hosted by Ms Sharon Le Grande; an all star cast to say the least.
We are led in by a piano recital from Barbs. She is wearing a wedding dress, she is playing Phillip Glass immaculately. It’s beautiful and haunting and simultaneously somewhat facetious.
The White Boys make their first appearance of the night accompanying the master of ceremonies Ms Sharon Le Grande as she covers 'Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others’. It cements the evening as one that cannot be forgotten, fast forward to however many hours later, it's the song everyone is singing at the pub after, in the style of (admittedly not doing justice too) Ms Le Grande. I can still picture her, feathered and furious waltzing between the church pews. Truly an image of beauty and debauchery.
Island girl was main support, armed with a banjo and kazoo which, in truth, was a set up that worried me before she started playing but of course she made it a pleasure to listen to. It matched the acoustics of the church flawlessly.
And finally, following another spectral, wedding dress clad performance by Evil Kebab, the Lilith scream choir led us into the main event; Jeanie and her White Boys consisting of Aidan Clough (Insecure Men) on noise guitar, Dominic O’Dair (Toy) on lead guitar and Bleu Otis (Warmduscher) on drums, who, together with the spirited fronting of Jeanie Crystal delivered a potent punk performance drenched in cutting lyrics, in perfect antithesis to the pious setting. A special mention of course to the particularly sterling performance of their new single, the reason we are all gathered here today, ‘Big Udder Blues’, out now.
A perfect finale to our night of spectral beauty and elegant debauchery.
Watch this space - a horrifically overused phrase I know but it seems only appropriate given the infant stages of the band and the raging success of a spectacular launch. Listen to the debut single and watch out for what promises to be an incredible music video.
‘at once violent, ethereal, detached and intent’ - Michael Bracewell
(on Michael clark, admittedly not describing Jeanie and the White Boys debut single launch event, but…it seems very apt.)
Listen to 'Big Udder Blues' here
Follow Jeanie and the White Boys
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