Matt & I are both massive fans of I Blame Coco and are eagerly awaiting them playing some U.S dates. They have been out on the road over in the U.K and our good friend Will Hines of Strangers In Stereo attended the show at Scala and reviewed it for Hard Candy. Check it out…

Coco (nee Eliot) Sumner stands out on the merits of her own talent, yet we cannot pretend that the associations that come with her surname have had a negative influence on her fledgling career. The daughter of Sting and Trudie Styler is a precocious talent, and cannot avoid the gifts of inheritance; those familiar tones are present in her voice, yet whist her early demos (she kicked off the career aged 15) allowed Sting to live vicariously through her similarly reggae-influenced songwriting, the new Coco is another proposition entirely.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La_x5_7wnJs

BEHIND THE SCENES

Unlike the rest of the Hard Candy team, my exposure to I Blame Coco’s debut album The Constant has been minimal, limited to a few plays before the show. Regardless, I can appreciate a work of quality, and was surprised at the complex lyricism teamed with a commercial MA. The same approach is taken with the no-nonsense live setup, which works a solid live band around Sumner’s distinctive voice. And that is that.

This tour has been a long time coming. The Constant has been in the works since 2007, and this show represents the final date of the group’s first major headlining tour. Emerging on stage following two support sets, Sumner’s stage attire included a bow tie and her quirkiness spilled over into stilted dancing and muted interactions with the crowd. The instrument at the centre of it all is electrifying, her voice as clear cut and arresting as on record, rising above the heavy undertones of the instrumental. Latest single “Self Machine” arrives early on, bolstering a crowd made up of adolescent girls and industry bods, all looking for a piece of this rare live show. The slick set had the feel of a showcase, whistling through 9 tracks in under 45 minutes, and the post-gig ambience was a strange mix of “Is that it?” and “Wow”. For now, however, the suggestions of nepotism are largely pointless: the girl has a talent.

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCEfTXP6y1s

CEASER (with Robyn)

Having looked up the tour set-list we were concerned when things appeared to be settling into the same old routine; surely Coco would pull something special out for her home-date, and the finale of her tour? The doubts were unfounded, as Sumner introduced “one of the biggest pop stars in the world” for a rousing rendition of “Caesar”. It was, of course, Robyn, outfitted in a stocky cardigan and with her trademark pixie cut; catch a short video of the performance below.

The showcase feel of this performance contributes to the fact that I Blame Coco are still a somewhat unknown entity, at least on the bigger stage. The expected transformation from talented singer songwriter to global entity will come in the next phase, as Sumner steps outside the comfort zone of her home and flies further afield. America, prepare yourselves. - Will Hines

SET LIST
1. Party Bag
2. Self Machine
3. Turn Your Back On Love
4. In Spirit Golden
5. Please Rewind
6. It’s About To Get Worse
7. No Smile
8. Quicker
9. Caesar (ft. Robyn)

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paZTuAKCYGg

QUICKER (LIVE AT HALDERN FESTIVAL)