ctrl LIVE: Pierre Omer's Swing Revue (UK/CH)

Pierre Omer’s Swing Revue brings their genre-twisting swing to Control Club on Wednesday, May 14. 

Pierre Omer, a founder member of the legendary funeral orchestra the Dead Brothers, writes most of the original material of the band, rooted in blues, swing, exotica, experimental and film noir. The songwriting is rather dark, addressing the troubled times we’re going through. But the band reminds us that swing is, and always has been, an energetic, joyful and fearless music for a troubled and absurd world.

Replacing the double bass with her left hand, new band member keyboardist Geraldine Schenkel on the iconic Fender Rhodes and Clavinet, played through wha-wha pedals and fuzz boxes, takes the band on a whole new musical journey. At times also on the bandoneon, the Argentinian accordion, Schenkel infuses that melodramatic venom to the music.

Talking about melodrama, trumpet player Christoph Gantert from Zürich (but looking as if he just came out of a seventies French crime movie) blows every note as if his life was on the edge of the abyss. His singing and songwriting skills are very noticeable on a few numbers. Also to mention his ever-growing collection of flûtes, whistles and noisy toys that he uses as a perfect contrapoint to the drama.

Julien Israelian, the hero of the singing and explosive drums, is the keeper, together with Pierre Omer’s rhythm guitar, to that tireless groove. Nasty yet nonchalant, heavy yet subtle beat. Drum parts usually fly through the room during his playful and wild solos, not hurting the tuxedo effect before the end of the performance.