“We’ve never heard it” cries the fans to the sold out St Vincent show at Hoxton Bar and Kitchen, it was obvious that most of the folks (well, at the front anyway) has heard Annie’s latest album Actor and love it (based on the cheers to the songs she announces). It was an exciting and playful show down at East Lundun.
Annie Clarke came out on stage sporting a big long coat covering her pretty black dress underneath. She was bubbly and friendly to the audience, perhaps due to the fact that it was quite an intimate venue and being in close proximity with the fans (not to forget that she’s just a friendly person).
She starts off the show by playing a nice chirpy backing sample of her going “bum bum bum, bum” as she plays Jesus Saves, I Spend from her debut album Marry Me, though it was obvious this show was about her latest upcoming album Actor. She announced the next song, Strangers and suddenly the crowd goes wild, fishy. Annie reacts with a surprised wow since the album isn’t out yet.
She then follows with Actor out of Work, where she explains about the music video which features her as a director auditioning people and making them cry (fake cry), but then she goes on to tell us that people on the interweb mistook her for just some lady who made people cry.
Next up Annie went into “slow jam” mode and played Marry Me, in which my friend John was smug throughout the show (no prizes for why). Next up was Landmines. Slowly the charade was getting more and more obvious as the audience cheered at her next song Black Rainbow with someone telling her it was his favourite track off the album that he has “yet” to listen. The audience chuckled as annie confronted some of the sly folks and questioned whether some people went naughty with the downloads. It was all very tongue and cheek 
Annie then unleashed some top tracks including Your lips are Red and Marrow (insert super boogie mode when she spells HELP). She ended the show with a Party, Anika tempted me to shout “PAAAAARTAE” Bender style but I opted not to. The funny bit afterwards is how Annie was a bit stuck in terms of how to do an encore. As you know they typically walk off stage, chill out, get fanned by the manager, banter and whatnot, this time she was stuck with the crowd (including me) blocking the exit, so instead of teasing and making the crowd want more, she comes back on stage and finishes the show with a fan requested Paris is burning.
The crowd were definitely loving the show, she’s definitely popular amongst the fans judging from the cheers, applauds and even epic 5 minute clapping participation as she plays Your Lips are Red. After the show Annie was once again stuck with the same situation… “ack, how do you exit the stage when the fans are all over”. Nevermind, she just sits by the stage and wait about whilst the crowd leaves, all buzzing and happy over a great show.
Me and Anika managed to banter with Annie until a queue of fans started forming asking for pictors and autographs. I managed to quickly swipe the setlist which happened to be a hand written one by Annie herself on a hanky, cue the jokes of sneezing into it before giving it to someone.
Definitely look out for her upcoming album Actor when it’s out, the tunes are mesmerising and well worth your hard earned pounds (or currency of the local variety).
