The Long Blondes have plenty of bounce
The dance floor was only half full, but that didn’t stop British dance punk band The Long Blondes from giving an energetic, commanding performance at Washington, D.C.'s Rock and Roll Hotel on Thursday night. Fronted by the oh-so-stylish Kate Jackson sporting a Parisian-style scarf, the band spun a steady four-to-the-floor beat, interwoven with highly danceable tunes like Separated by Motorways, Giddy Stratospheres and Once and Never Again. Songs from their debut album, Someone to Drive You Home, reflect a number of influences, blending the power of Blondie circa 1977, the playful innocence of '60s pop, the grit of The Ramones -– all dipped in the smoky, sweet Siouxsie-like voice of Jackson. Guitarists Dorian Cox and Emma Chaplin lent a rockabilly insouciance, and Screech Louder added fervor to tunes like Weekend Without Makeup with thunderous, rolling drums.
