Strangely, I appear to have been immortalised as a character in the
Travel edition of the game Guess Who – although I’m not sure about the
lipstick!
It looks like a camper version of me, with a bit of Morrissey thrown in…..

I have been championing London’s Lucky Soul (think ’60s girl group pop
meets Dusty and St Etienne, but with a nod to indie guitar sounds,
too) for absolutely ages; well before their 2007 debut album The Great
Unwanted garnered great reviews from the critics.
The good news is that they’re back – and they’re better than ever.
I saw them play a storming set at The Lexington in Angel last week,
supporting The Pipettes at new club night Technicolour. The band has
undergone a line-up change, with a new drummer, bassist and keyboard
player, but the nucleus of Lucky Soul – gorgeous female vocalist Ali
Howard and rhythm guitarist Andrew Laidlaw – remains the same.
It’s not just the line-up that’s changed, either – the sound has got
darker and ballsier, and Ali has come on leaps and bounds as a
performer – ooozing more charm and stage presence, whether she’s
wielding a tambourine, stomping across the stage, singing a lovelorn
lament (Baby, I’m Broke), or dancing like some kind of cool, kooky
chick from a ’60s mod movie.
The band are also tighter and more confident, too – not afraid to rock
out on tracks like the rampant, driving soul of White Russian Doll.
Their new songs (the band’s second album will be out early next year),
while retaining Lucky Soul’s knack for a classic chorus and a neat
melody, are edgier and more grown up than those on their debut.
As the lyric from ‘Woah, Billy!’, which you can listen to on their
Myspace, says, ‘Dark times ahead’.
Starting with a glammy guitar riff that sounds like it was found
nestling in Noddy Holder’s sideburns, it soon turns into a big disco
monster of a tune, with Philly strings, pounding keys and a killer
groove goin’ on.
“If I don’t do it now, I’m dead,” proclaims Ali.
Well, what are you waiting for? Give ’em a listen – before it’s too late.
 
www.myspace.com/luckysoulluckysoul
www.luckysoul.co.uk