In a display of patriotic pride prior to the World Cup match tomorrow, Hannah and I went to see Goldfrapp play in Oakland tonight. Goldfrapp are the band responsible for inspiring every female-singer-electronic-pop performance of the last decade. Madonna, Gwen Stefani, Kylie, 90% of Eurovision entries...you name it. Don't believe me? Well, it's true.
The concert was in the Fox Theater, a fantastically restored venue and the site of the infamous Mika night when Hannah and Christine returned tired and emotional. There are waitresses that bring you drinks on the dance floor! This was their excuse.
Needless to say, Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory were amazing. It took her a few songs to really warm up, but after that they were flying. Their only doing five dates in the USA and the band seemed genuinely amazed at the warmth of the reception, and left the stage after an hour-and-a-half and two encores grinning. Not even their elaborate stage set deflating midway through could stop them (it re-inflated a song later, to much cheering). And we weren't even the oldest concert goers! Although, usefully, we were among the tallest.
The mightily restored Fox Theater, Oakland.
The warm up act: a guy with a computer. Rubbish.
Hannah, head and shoulders above everyone.
Here they are!
Will Gregory on the much-underused keytar.
Even a deflating set can't keep them down.
Back up, and the crowd goes wild.
Outfit #1
Outfit #2
And outfit #3
