Gig: Space and Republica, London Islington O2 Academy

SO glad we went to see Space and Republica. Nostalgia aside it was a superb gig and I loved it. Didn't realise how much Republica I knew, but the real highlight were Space. They played Mr Psycho! Forgot how great that tune is! And for one chorus, Davina even provided lead vocals for 'Female of the Species'!

That's what I wrote for my Facebook, and sums up the night pretty well. I've been meaning to go to a Space gig for...well, since I started going to gigs over a decade ago, since I was a big fan of them as a teenager, but as they were largely defunct for a time, my only real chance was when they played a university May Ball, and I didn't make it - until today, and a joint reunion tour with Republica. 

The two bands actually have more in common than I had ever thought until seeing them side-by-side, quite aside from being popular at similar times. Both are known as rock bands but are really electronic projects with the clear centres of their bands being the keyboard player and the singer. Both - though perhaps this is a new innovation - are very reliant on a fair bit of playback, playing along with a lot of loops and samples, sapping some of the energy but providing a very solid performance for the singers. And both have enduring and enthusiastic fanbases, which made the atmosphere a joy. 

Space came on first. Their original drummer, of course, passed away not too long ago, and they had a peculiar young man in a fez and shades perhaps controlling the samples, but otherwise the band has aged but changed little. Frontman Tommy Scott looks rather different now, going for a rather Gary Oldman look but with a camp swagger that ends up giving him more of an air of Paul O'Grady, but he still has the impressive voice and the storyteller's gift. 

They kicked off the show, unexpectedly, with 'Charlie M' - which is actually a great party-starter. That led into the storming 'Mr Psycho', which I had almost forgotten about but which is an absolute highlight and incredibly fun. I was very gratified the band played 'Begin Again', which was the song that got into my head and made me remember this gig was taking place (spotted when we played in the O2 Academy bar) and the new songs from 'Attack of the Killer 50ft Kebab' (a title perhaps a little too daft, but an album I've been sure to buy after this) were great - far better than the odd leading single. The title track was exhilarating, but it was 'She's In Love With the Boy in the Body Bag' that convinced me there is still a real songwriting force here. 

The band had a lot of technical difficulties, which only highlighted the slight lack of spontaneity that comes from such a heavy use of loops - and it felt a lot of the time like the drummer might as well not have even been there - but this is after all an intricate sound. There's a lot of variety, too, and it was lovely when Cerys Matthews' part in 'The Ballad of Tom Jones' was supplied by a big projected head. Another highlight came towards the end when Tommy jumped into the crowd and got people to sing the chorus of 'Female of the Species' - the Space track that will undoubtedly endure, and was fun to see played on the keyboard - which included my friend Davina. The band finished with 'Neighbourhood', of course, and though possibly some other bands at bigger gigs have moved me more, this was very possibly the most fun I've had at any of them, and the shortest any full set from a band has ever seemed.

Republica - well, I have issues with Republica. Their hits justify their self-image of 'Technopop punk rock', but the rest of their oeuvre is a lot heavier on the technopop and a lot lighter on the punk rock. Disco beats prevail, the band has no bassist and the guitar is very much draped on top of the massive sound from the guy in the 'Lord, forgive me for my synths' t-shirt. The drummer, a very fresh-faced 20-year-old, clearly has chops and has watched Mike Portnoy DVDs for some excellent toolbox mini-fills, but is very much restrained by the simple song structures and even occasionally has to play along to synthesised hi-hat loops, meaning I spent the whole gig wondering how he would play in a band that allowed him to actually express himself. 

On the other hand, taken as a pop group, or even an Infected Mushroom-style electro collective, and focusing on the playback and the singer, they are a fantastic band. Mixed-race singer Saffron has a hell of a voice and a great stage presence that is at once commanding and likeable. Her delivery of 'Drop Dead Gorgeous' doesn't come over as contrived, and she is clearly having fun. She is fantastic and deserves even more than she has already achieved. The songs are also simple, direct fun - to the point and often extremely high-energy. There is little possibility for real spontaneity here - they even had to play 'Ready to Go' a second time when it was clear the crowd wanted an encore - but taken as a pop group with a superb frontwoman, Republica certainly still have it.