The Tiger Lilies – PIAF
Brighton Spiegeltent
Following their sell-out success at The Royal Opera House last year, Grammy nominated, cult sensations The Tiger Lillies return to Brighton Fringe with a brand new concert inspired by one of their greatest influences, the incomparable Edith Piaf. ‘Piaf was great, electric. She came from the gutter but is one of the best singers ever’ says Martyn Jacques (lead singer)
The Tiger Lillies are a sombre and macabre affair fusing Romany gypsy melodies with frantic beats and just a soupçon of the afterlife – Edith Piaf was this shows muse and focal point of their talented inspired tales. Part grand guignol, part seedy vaudeville, part grunge cabaret, The Tiger Lillies have always been drawn towards the theatrical and this new concert is no exception. Featuring brand new music along with songs made famous by Piaf. They captivated and entranced the audience with their Dia de los Muertos inspired make-up, inventive lyrics, beguiling rhythms and Martin Jacques’ unique and hypnotic vocals.
The Spiegeltent lighting was on good form tonight with some decently worked out lighting adding to the atmosphere, and Adrian Stout’s accompaniment on musical saw as sweet and bonkers as it needed to be. The Lillies never pay much attention to decorum when they are in full swing and their set ran over the advertised time much to the delight of the crowd, many of whom were clearly avid fans, finishing by taking a number of requests. I for one can never get too much of them.
The King Is Dead was a personal favourite whilst all time classic Banging in the Nails had the audience stomping their feet and the Spiegeltent reverberating in joy. Ah their refreshing iconoclastic joy! They are the Saints of the Festival. The catchy Hamster song getting the biggest laughs of the night with its filthy sexual lyrics. As always their shimmering menace hangs in the air, intoxicating in its unpredictability. Such generous performers. With drummer Jonas Golland was situated off the raised area it was slightly less intimate than they usually feel but once they are in full swing it didn’t really matter.
The Tiger Lillie’s are a complex, dark acquired taste but an addictive one if they sate your appetite then it was a veritable feast served up at the Spiegeltent on Sunday, no one in the charged up thrilled audience left hungry.
Full details of the performance can be seen here, you can catch them doing this show in London next weekend (11th-12th June) see details here:
For more info or to book tickets for the final weekend of the Brighton Fringe see their website here
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