Tired of Being Sexy

Went to see Cansei De Ser Sexy (CSS) the other night at the Scala in King’s Cross. Ok, it’s not South London, but still plenty of Fear and Loathing in the surrounding areas, including a Irish pub that still seems to have a ‘men only’ room and a strictly-stout drinking policy…

Anyway, by the time we got there, support act The 1990s were about halfway through their set. Nice rollicking bass lines rumbling under a broad Glaswegian accent, somehow managing to sound like they could soundtrack Wacky Races. They seemed to think they were already playing a stadium gig in Houston, but it’s easy to forgive them their delusions when they’re such an affable bunch.

Quick break for a pint, then back down the front to wait for CSS to appear. For those who don’t know, they’re a Brazilian electropunkpop combo that are currently hyped in the UK as the answer to all your ass-shaking needs. And judging from the CD, the hype might be right. I was really looking forward to finding out, although was mentally preparing myself for disappointment, especially when the band took to the stage and the bloke next to me immediately started shouting ‘Get yet tits out!’. Lovely British welcome that, thanks mate.

But, once lead-singer Lovefoxxx and the rest of her motley crew take to the stage, there’s no question that this band knows what it’s doing.

They’re Brazilian, but about as far from the samba-and-football Girl From Ipanema stereotypes as you can get. If they’re anything to go by, Sao Paolo must be some kind of Brazilian Shoreditch, all angular haircuts and brightly coloured leggings (a look copied, unsuccessfully, by quite a few of the crowd). Plus their guitarist has a moustache. These fashionistas aren’t messing about.

But despite being the hard-edge of totalitarian electropunk fashion, they also manage to be bloody good fun. Lead singer Lovefoxxx (possibly the most beautiful fringe I’ve ever seen) chats with the crowd, borrows their clothes, gives them coquettish kisses on the cheek… and then gets down into the crowd to dance around with us, security desperately trying to keep her mike lead from being ripped to shreds by the revellers.

In terms of the set-list, let’s not bore ourselves by going through it one at a time, suffice to say they played the majority of their album, with Meeting Paris Hilton, and new single Alala probably being the highlights. Until they finish off with Let's Make Love and Listen to Death From Above, at which point all hell breaks loose and the crowd turn into a mad moshing funk monster, only to have Lovefoxxx give up all pretense of maintaining her calm and throwing herself over the crowd. There's nothing quite like having the greatest thing in Brazillian electropop crowdsurf over your head...

It's rare to see a band who place the emphasis so squarely on just having a great time, but that seems to be what CSS are all about. Their name comes from a quote from Jennifer Lopez, who claimed she was tired of being sexy, which the band apprarently thought was such a ridiculous comment it might make a good band name. But if they're tired of being sexy, they're clearly not tired of having fun.