18 posts tagged “the ting tings”
I walk back to the hotel and jump in a car taking me back to Summersonic. I am taking my digital camera with me this time so I can get to be a proper tourist, filming the views from the highway as we head out of the city. I get to Summersonic at 2pm. It is scorching hot. I head off to find the Ting Tings who are finishing up in the interview room. It is fascinating in there, ten, twelve, maybe more, film crews are all set up to interview each of the pop stars as they come out, some taking Polaroid’s which they invite the artists to sign, others asking them to sign the wall behind them. I am more fascinated by the arrival of Joan Jett who looks stunning, the same as she always has done, not a mark on her face. I find her fascinating though. Being this close to the woman who was the embodiment of rock and roll to me from the age of seventeen.
We walk all of the way down the backstage corridor to the Sonic Stage where the Ting Tings are about to come on. The room is rammed; there must be 8,000 kids in here. I always wanted the Ting Tings to be massive in Japan, I had hopes that they would be as big as Shampoo, but having been here I can suddenly see why Shampoo worked so well. And those were different times. Still we have done 50K records and there is no denying the support out today.
The lights go down and I walk down to the front of the stage so that I can draw them up close. Jules comes on to play the opening lines to “We Walk” on the piano, almost immediately the crowd are going mental. He gets to the repetitive riff, loops it and walks back to the kit striking up the beat as Katie walks onstage. I love this song, it packs all of my favourite eighties moments into itself. I am so lucky to have them on the roster when I love them so much, every bit as much as Elastica who I never thought could be bettered. Elastica with application, how about that. They launch into “Great DJ” and that glorious moment when the bass loop licks in is pure magic. I am so happy though to see all of these Japanese kids going barmy. Whilst the set doesn’t have quite the highs of Glastonbury, it is still wonderful to be able to finally see the band play in an environment where I always dreamed I would one day see them. “That’s Not My Name” is the final moment, building to that defiant crescendo.
I head over to Wimbledon Stadium Business Centre where the Ting Tings are shooting their video. It is good to see them all again after their recent trip around America. It is an all white studio, the kind of videos I love. . They seem in good spirits and Jules recounts tales of travelling through Texas and the gnarled characters they met in the South. It is not difficult to see why Bush got a second term.
Tim and I head over to Silverlake where the Ting Tings are playing a show prior to their few days in Texas for SXSW. It is in an art gallery which Tav asked Marty Diamond to find for them. We walk in as the band are finishing “Fruit Machine” I am thrilled the place is packed, sold out. Kids are singing the words to every song. They are playing so well, a really exciting performance. Afterwards Katie and Jules are on great form. I am so jealous that I am not joining them down in Texas where they have eight shows planned over the four days. Jules goes off to sit by this amazing gas fire that rises out of these crystals by the wall. I thought someone had started a fire by accident. When we head out to leave he is fast asleep on the couch.
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