NITZER EBB @ LAFAYETTE, LONDON

Doing a rare performance with all Nitzer Ebb original founding members, Vaughan “Bon” Harris (vocals, drums), Douglas McCarthy (vocals, drums) and David Gooday (programming), the EBM pioneers and hard-edged electronic dance act returned to tour to play a similar set to their last London show a few years ago.

With frontman Douglas pacing around the stage to every beat, the band began their set on tracks from their 1989 second studio album ‘Belief’ with ‘Blood Money’, ‘Captivate’ and ‘Hearts And Minds’; the latter contained morse quote squeaks and rhythm builds to the next studio album ‘Showtime’, of which they performed ‘Getting Closer’ with electrifying pulses.

Nitzer Ebb continued to their following record, the ‘As Is’ EP, ‘Come Alive’, featuring gothic keys against a thudding monotonous beat. They then went to their 1987 debut album ‘That Total Age’ with classic favourite ‘Join The Chant’ and relentless beats of ‘Let Your Body Learn’, finishing their set on ‘Murderous’. Then continuing from the same release, Bon returned to perform ‘Violent Playground’, sang as a poignant solo piece. David also performed an angrier solo of ‘Alarm’ before Douglas returned for a final song.

26/04/22: Nitzer Ebb @ LaFayette, London.