With its vast ceilings and hidden stage, The Lexington has become an Islington landmark. Built in 1875, the bar-turned-live music venue has seen performances from the likes of Billy Bragg, Camera Obscura and many more over the years.
On this particular evening, the stage welcomes four-piece Friedberg, following the release of their latest album, Hardcore Workout Queen. Led by Austrian singer-songwriter Anna F., the band’s sound is perhaps best described as a mixture of post-punk and alt-rock, with a slight pop aftertaste. While on paper, this does not seem particularly original, the four-piece are undoubtedly refreshing – especially in their delivery.
First up, however, are the support act, Rat-Tails. Dressed in nightgowns and tangled up in ribbon, they truly give the Last Dinner Party a run for their money. The group take the classic dream-rock genre, popularised by the likes of Mazzy Star and My Bloody Valentine, and fashion it into something uniquely theirs. Top track ‘Flowers’ leaves the front-row breathless, with its needling guitars and funky, rhythmic bass lines.
As the main act take to the stage, a series of pulsating beats fill the room. Bedecked in corsets, cow print and sportswear, Friedberg evoke an aura that is undeniably cool. Guitarist Emily Linden gives an unfaltering performance, pacing across the stage left, right and centre. Catchy rhythms make it difficult to remain still, as the crowd shuffles and sways across the sticky floor, shaking their troubles away.
Anna F. impressively masters three instruments at once, offering sultry vocals, evocative guitar riffs and cowbell clangs that leave the audience asking for more. The band segue through their top hits: earworm ‘Yeah’, upbeat ‘Go Wild’ and a cover of Grauzone’s ‘Eisbär’, for which Anna F. slips into her mother tongue. But the night would not be complete without a handful of new tracks, namely the album’s title-track ‘Hardcore Workout Queen’, which was written by Anna F. and a friend post-workout as an ode to hedonism.
As the night draws to a close, it is difficult not to reflect on the power of independent venues such as The Lexington, which have – for so long – turned out some of the industry’s biggest names. With this iconic location under their belts, we can only wait and see where these two bands end up.
MA Newspaper Journalism at City, University of London. Bylines in MyLondon, Clash Magazine, DIY Magazine, and more. Freelance Arts and Culture Journalist.