Review of The Gossip at the Shepherds Bush Empire

The Gossip’s riot girl inspired punk-soul music has been a revelation ever since it stormed the Indie music scene and its third album, Standing in the way of control, went stratospheric.

Lead singer Beth Ditto’s electrifying voice and arresting onstage presence reminds you exactly why.

Beth describes herself as “fat lesbian feminist”. She appeared naked on the front of the NME, and refused to play a gig at Top Shop, slamming them for not making clothes for “big girls and boys” and offering to design for them.

It’s this out, proud and fuck-you attitude that makes The Gossip’s gigs a riot of fat guitar riffs and queer feminist inspired chutzpah.

Crowd pleasers include Listen up!: “There’s some people that you just can’t trust, some people just talk to much!”; Your Mangled Heart: “I don’t want the world, I just want what I deserve”; and the gay love song Coals to Diamonds: “I think I feel a little hurt, my fists are turning coal to diamonds”.

But it’s the queer anthem, and last song of the night, Standing in the way of control, that sends the crowd - including me - ballistic. The song is an ode to the queers of the US and their fight against the homophobia unleashed by bible-bashing George Bush.

As the first riffs of the song are struck by lead guitarist Nathan Howdshell, Beth beckons her fans onstage. Scrambling over a barrier with the help of other eager gig-goers, I manage to join her and a hundred other bodies on stage as the first verse kicks in.

Your back’s against the wall
There’s no one home to call
You’re forgetting who you are
You can’t stop crying
It’s part not giving in
Part trusting your friends
You do it all again and I’m not lying

Standing in the way of control
We live our lives

The powerful-life affirming lyrics and feet-stomping tune have made this The Gossip’s signature song. Fans are eagerly waiting for more of the same from the new album out in October.