Space rocks Shelter

By Aaron Rennie
Daily Arts Editor

Space, a quirky and easily lovable quartet of Liverpudlians, played an energized set of 12 songs at The Shelter last Tuesday. The group's stylized hybrid of rock, cocktail lounge, pop and techno was well received, but was unfortunately privy to only about 150 people.

REVIEW
	Space The Shelter, Detroit June 3, 1997

Nevertheless, Space seemed to be having lots of fun onstage. After a mediocre set by opening act Muse (more people seemed to be watching Game Two of the Red Wings/Flyers series than the band), Space entered to a pre-programmed drum 'n' bass track, which got the crowd a-movin.' The group's opening song, "Me and You Versus the World," off its 1996 debut album, "Spiders," was a wise choice: Lead singer and bassist Tommy Scott's vocals meshed well with guitarist Jamie Murphy's, indicating the band was in top form. Keyboardist Franny Griffith bounced around behind his wall of electronic gadgets and occasionally punched the air, as he appeared greatly pleased with Andy Parle's pounding drumming.

Although one wouldn't notice it solely by listening to "Spiders" - largely due to his voice and Scott's being virtually indistinguishable - Murphy sings lead on quite a few Space songs. On "No One Understands," the second tune the group unveiled at The Shelter, Murphy closed his eyes and nailed just about every note, taking a slight edge off his occasionally raspy voice. He also adequately handled the lead during "Voodoo Roller," allowing his songwriting partner Scott to move away from his microphone and interact more with the crowd.

Other highlights included "Spider"'s opening track, "Neighbourhood"; "Dark Clouds," a very optimistic song despite its seemingly depressing title; the aforementioned "Voodoo Roller" and Space's biggest international hit, "Female of the Species."

"Species" is one of those unique songs that is good to listen to at just about any time. Its chorus - "How can heaven hold a place for me / When a girl like you has cast a spell on me?" - is quite playful, and synchronizes nicely with Griffith's tropical-sounding keyboard line. Space executed the song smoothly live, and the audience sang along enthusiastically with Scott, who at about 5-foot-5 was barely taller onstage than many people on the floor. Scott smiled as he chanted, "The female of the species is more deadly than the male," showing his nasty case of laryngitis - which caused the band to cancel its Detroit date in March - was well behind him.

For an encore, the band bounded back onstage to its deliciously malevolent song, "Mr. Psycho." The tune, which alludes to serial-killing vicars and violent transvestites, left the crowd in a joyous mood, which was not soured at all by the Red Wings' 4-2 defeat of the Flyers.

The wacky lads of Space played an energetic show at The Shelter last Tuesday.

06-11-97