Mairead and Tabitha have been wreaking deck-wrecking vengeance on an unsuspecting public since 2002. Champions of the never-mind-the-gaps school of DJing, their uniquely chaotic delivery has assured their regal status amongst the current school of Rock & Roll DJs.
It was a partnership born out of a damp basement in Dalston, cheap Vodka and a shared inability not to jump off the closest piece of furniture when in earshot of a good record. The girls cut (and chipped) their teeth playing weekly shambolic 5 hour sets in Shoreditch's 333 club where Mairead coincidentally booked the DJs. Their success was testament to the power of shared conviction, good music and eye-catching pants. Not ones to be limited by the fly postered battlements of East London, new challenges beckoned in the shape of Friday nights at Camden's Barfly.
Taking over what had become a somewhat lack lustre institution, our stately heroines double-handedly spearheaded a rock renaissance with their beer sodden spectaculars. The back catalogue of bands to take to their stage reads like a road map to era when British guitar music was reborn: The Libertines, The Futureheads, Razorlight, Snow Patrol, Block party, The Rakes, Graham Coxon and Kasabian to name but a few, while secret gigs such as The Yeah Yeah Yeahs and BRMC were thrilling opportunities to see bands otherwise long past playing in Camden basements.
Queens of Noize presents, fast became a rallying point for Rock stars on the lam rarely shy to join in with the DJ shenanigans, amongst them The White Stripes, Har Mar Superstar, The Darkness, Electric Six, Junior Senior, infamously Courtney Love and Peaches. Most importantly however the Queen's infectious enthusiasm and lure of superlative bands ensured the throng of lovelorn boys and feral girls that turned up to rub shoulders with their heroes ended up to busy dancing to care.
Meanwhile their realm was ever increasing, like two exuberant cheerleaders Mairead and Tabitha's services were enlisted to rally crowds on various cross-country jaunts by the likes of The Liars, Junior Senior and most surreally Pink. The Queens were the only support act in her recent 32-date stadium tour across Europe playing to audiences ranging from 10-20,000 kids including 2 nights at Wembley. It was indeed a challenge but after brushing up on their mike skills and some nifty new moves they had the kids eating out of their hands.
Soon people in places started to take notice. MTV2 bravely asked the girls if they would present their weekly NME chart show. With pretty much a cult audience MTV bosses were largely disinterested allowing the girls free range to vent their opinions and what ever else sprung to mind.
With this came a sister column in the NME and our heroines found them selves in the unlikely position of recounting their weekly adventures to the music loving nation at large.
With all this under their belt not to mention sneaking out their own tongue in cheek single Indie Boys (Don't Deserve It) their insider swipe at solipsistic alterna-rockers. The girls have been travelling the globe spreading their particular brand of chaos and can currently be found sharing their time between their own American invasion and their new night at 333 in East London - A combination of the best new bands, unlikely surprises and brassy birds in nice frocks skidding over in their Malibu.
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Darlings of the indie scene.
ES mag
Royally eminent girls about town.
Time Out |
