celebrity chimp + THE durell family

Well… almost. Instead, the facade simply disarms the audience, opening their minds through their grins while some rattling, rolling, snake-wrestling anthems travel through their ears. It’s opium, it’s Mazzy Star, it’s Dolly Parton on toast… and they’re rather fantastic. Topping off the aura of non-seriousness, CELEBRITY CHIMP’s bassist jumps on stage stealing the blonde wig, hoisting it atop his head as the rag and bone pop act kick into ‘Porn Star.’ “You’re gonna be a pornstar! / You’re gonna be a pornstar! / You’re gonna be a pornstar all your life!” they bellow, mauling the banjo as if they’re special guests on the Muppet Show. It’s piss taking, ego deflating stuff - set to whizzing pop tunes. They deal with serious issues - like falling in love with shop window mannequins (‘Plastic Girl’) being buggered in jail (‘Too Pretty For Prison’) and not really needing a bass player (‘Do You Think We Need A Bass Player?’). Their bassist takes a dejected walk around the audience for that last one. It’s the finale of ‘Swingers” that steals the tune of the night award though, containing as it does a sparkling, feel-great chorus that gets the audience twitching in their pants with joy. Celebrity Chimp are time travellers in their own mad universe - and it’s worth dropping in to say hi.