Songs are great. Proper songs, with lyrics, reason, melody and some kind of sentiment. Hardly anyone does them anymore. Well, except The Divine Comedy, whiny old Travis and of course, World Party. Maybe Robbie Williams does them too, but then again, he's a thief. Of sorts.
You see, Karl Wallinger is the very embodiment of style and charm, totally calm in the face of tonight's technical adversity. Apart from, that is, when "Robin Wilson", as he likes to call him, gets a unavoidable mention.
It's only upon hearing World Party perform 'She's the One' that you realise just how inappropriate Robbie's cover version was. What is, in their hands a soothing, robust, ode to the joy of proper relationships seems, in this light, a classic that Williams barely managed to parody, let alone do justice to. Wallinger puts it best, saying, "the difference between Robbie and me is that I know who 'she' is". Quite.
Inevitably, there are similarities too. Sometimes when watching the aforementioned Robbie, you overlook the third rate backing track because he's such a cheeky, lovable chappy. The music tonight may not be exactly third rate, but it's not exactly pushing any boundaries either.
Karl Wallinger,however, has showmanship on his side, the kind of attitude that has the audience eating out of his hand. The shades, the smile, and the faded pink t-shirt that warns, "don't talk to me, I'm a complete f**king lunatic", are all essential touches, all parts of an ultimately endearing package.
Who could help but fall into line. 'Put The Message In The Box' and 'Is It Like Today' are seemingly perfect commercial radio anthems, but in the face of such joy and enthusiasm, you can't help but see World Party as a mature Flaming Lips, in a perfect world destined to rule Radio 2 for ever and ever and ever.
None of this is lost on anyone attending. A reverential atmosphere prevails anyway, but when the PA goes down during 'Another 1000 Years', and in one collective voice the audience makes up the aural deficit, it's a glorious moment. Especially, when, in a moment of unsurpassed timing, the PA returns just in time for the line "everything is gonna be alright".
If you say so Karl, we'll happily take your word for it.
