Carling Live Sessions @ The Barfly - 15th July '04
		With The Specials’ Terry Hall and Hope Of The States packed into the now rammed to the rafters Barfly, it’s time for the newly found kings of scum and sleaze to take to the stage. Razorlight have literally exploded over the last few months with a top 3 album and top 20 single, so right now things couldn’t get much better for the four-piece. There’s definitely a magical feeling in the air as Johnny Borrell launches into ‘Rip It Up’ as bassist Carl Dalemo pogos on the spot, guitarist Bjorn Agren pulls suitably cooler than thou shapes and drummer Andy Burrows speeds through the song faster than a hare straight out a trap. Forthcoming single ‘Vice’ cranks out creating a mass of thriving bodies who sing every word right back at Borrell. The energy in the Barfly builds and builds with every song – what other bands can play tracks back-to-back like ‘Dalston’, ‘Up All Night’ and ‘Which Way Is Out’? These are point perfect indie pop songs tainted with art-rock styled jutting basslines interplaying with angular guitar riffs and rhythms which actually challenge the rules. “It’s great to be back at the Barfly” shouts Borrell before cranking out the opening riff to ‘Stumble And Fall’ inducing near-hysteria in the front rows. With the temperature starting to cause havoc with the guitar tuning, Borrell spends a lot of ‘Rock N’ Roll’ Lies’ and ‘Leave Me Alone’ swapping guitars but never missing a note showing the true maturity the he’s developed over the last two years on stage. The poetic tale of London rock n’ roll life in the epic ‘In The City’ sees Borrell spill out the words like a teenage Dylan as he strips off his drenched vest and drives the crowd into a euphoric frenzy. The stop/start Television inspired song is thrashed out to its screeching climax bringing an end to the incredible set and a welcome breather for the band. Luckily there’s time for one last song and the four-piece return to the stage for the most fitting song of the night, ‘Golden Touch’. It’s a night of musical history in the making and as XFM’s John Kennedy notes “probably the last time you’ll ever get to see Razorlight at the Barfly’ and as the lucky few hundred sweat drenched fans make their way into the drizzle of London’s so called ‘summer’ you know this will be one gig never forgotten.