 | | CSS |
Brought together and thrown back to their roots at the Roadhouse by MySpace for one of the website’s secret shows, it was inevitable that it would be a recipe for success. Just how potent a recipe it was, though, became apparent after a minute or so of CSS’s set when the ball of energy and brilliance that is their lead singer Lovefoxxx clambered up onto the lighting rig and hung upside down over an adoring crowd. The rest of the band were no slouches either. While belting out vigorous versions of their fiery finery, including a massive This Month, Day 10 and an equally punchy Music Is My Hot Hot Sex, speaker stacks were climbed, monitors were mounted and crowd-surfing became less of a occasional occurrence and more of a must-do task. Indeed, even after they finished, there was still time for the lone man in the group, Adriano Cintra, to loft himself onto the sea of hands. There was little doubt that a friendly challenge had been laid down.  | | The Gossip |
The Gossip’s Beth Ditto is made for such occasions. As confident as a prize fighter and twice as strong, she’s a revelation of a lead singer and within moments of taking the stage, showed exactly why her band were top of the bill. Her size and sexuality has seen her compared to many singers, but the nearest point of reference is actually Tina Turner, as her voice matches her confidence and her talent demands as much attention as her sheer presence. Opening with a hyped-up thrilling cover of Wham’s Careless Whisper and closing with a scream of “long live Yoko Ono”, they were every bit the stars they’re turning out to be. Inevitably, it was the mighty Standing In The Way Of Control that took the top spot in the set. Punched out with venomously danceable fire, it morphed into a rant against Paris Hilton and saw CSS retake the stage for more stage-diving, shape-throwing and a money shot duet between Ditto and Lovefoxxx. Cake had and cake eaten, the finale descended into chaos and non-stop partying took over. It might have been all to advertise a website’s widening tendrils but like it or not, if you weren’t there, you missed one of the gigs of the year. | 
