Girl Ray Chill Electric Ballroom
Girl Ray cruised onto the stage under the palm trees and turned the Electric Ballroom into a loungey-haze, filled with their breathless vocals and lo-fi grooves. It was a relaxed, local gig for the band whose members met just a few stops up the Northern line from Camden in Finchley. The band has been on the road promoting the latest album Girl (check out below).
For all their cool, they sing about around the usual teen angst. The “Girl” track lyrics –
Wanna sing something that I’d never say
I get a bit shy when I feel this way
You’re my high school sweetheart prom-queen babe
And I’m the nerdy boy that the jocks all hate
Poppy Hankin lead singer Girl Ray at the Electric Ballroom. Photo: Jon Himoff
Poppy Hankin (lead vocals, guitar), Sophie Moss (vocals, bass), Iris McConnell (drums) wore a sort of team outfit looking something like pyjamas (or PE kit) which reflected the low-key but coordinated feel of their sound. The band played well, despite a technical glitch and shared a lot of charm and warmth with the mostly full audience. Listening to the tracks live, much like the on the cover of the Girl album, you could imagine yourself behind sunglasses, drifting through a warm breeze, passing palm trees and dreaming about the people you might meet in the future.
You could feel the impact of the support the band is getting from Moshi Moshi Records. Feels like they are on to something cool.
Poppy Hankin, guitar and lead vocals, Sophie Moss, vocals and bass of Girl Ray at the Electric Ballroom. Photo: Jon Himoff
Sophie Moss of Girl Ray at the Electric Ballroom. Photo: Jon Himoff
Girl Ray on stage at Camden’s Electric Ballroom. Photo: Jon Himoff