Kevin Bronson on July 27th, 2009

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By Sam Wolf

Over the past few years the Noisettes have made a few trips to the U.S. from their native London while touring alongside U.K. buzz bands like Bloc Party, opening for TV on the Radio and playing at Coachella in 2007. Way back in ’07 while performing songs from their debut album, the Noisettes defied easy description, while vocalist, Shingai Shoniwai, further broke stereotypes of what might be expected of a black woman who can rock.

However at Spaceland last Wednesday and on their forthcoming album, “Wild Young Hearts” (due in September), the Noisettes have turned down their bombastic rock energy in favor of new songs featuring sweet vocal harmonies, disco rhythms, hand claps, jazzy chord changes, a few ballads, some sing-alongs, as well as odes to the joys of dancing and tales of summertime boyfriends. Compared to previous trips to these shores, there was far less rock n’ roll “noise” going on and much more quaint “ettes” – an homage to girl groups from the legendary Ronettes to the modern-retro Pipettes.

The result was far more Diana Ross & the Supremes than Tina Turner jamming with Cream and was quite a change from the raw blues and psychedelia on which the band built its reputation. For most of the set the Noisettes were supported by a hip-shaking female backup singer, occasional prerecorded string and keyboard sounds, an extra bass player when needed, as well as three roadies crammed onto the small stage to make sure everything went smoothly.

On this particular night the words “polished” and “professional” kept coming to mind. However, “professional” isn’t usually the most valuable currency for rock bands to inspire passion with. While many times throughout the set I marveled at the expert song craftsmanship, I also longed for something more visceral, something that previously had the power to shake my innards.

Even guitarist Dan Smith’s penchant for ferocious guitar solos now seemed to be muzzled into more melodic and stately lines even on older material that formally screamed with Hendrixian abandon. As a tell-tale sign of the times, Dan’s rock god long hair had now been shorn for a closely cropped ‘do leaving only wild thing drummer Jamie Morrison to provide anything visually or sonically heavy to the stage.

While the packed audience seemed to respond favorably, they never seemed to completely loose their full inhibitions either. Perhaps this was due to unfamiliarity with the new material or perhaps it’s because the set favored new songs that are less aimed at the hearts and minds of indie rockers. However, considering that the band will be supporting Lady Gaga on her upcoming U.K. tour and their party-themed single “Don’t Upset the Rhythm” recently hit No. 2 on the U.K. charts, it seems the Noisettes are nonetheless succeeding in their latest commercial aspirations.

It’s quite obvious that at this career juncture, Shingai is using her undeniable vocal talents to be placed alongside the company of U.K. soul-pop singers like Amy Winehouse and Duffy rather than the modern rock sisterhood of Karen O. and Allison Mosshart that many had previously come to expect. In a gesture that seemed almost sarcastically self-aware of this career conundrum, the band closed their set with a cover of T-Rex’s “Children of The Revolution” with lyrics proclaiming: “Well you can bump and grind if its good for your mind; well you can twist and shout let it all hang out but you won’t fool the children of the revolution.” For the Noisettes at Spaceland, these were true words indeed.

Sam Wolf is an L.A. freelance writer