November 27, 2007 23:03

The Enemy cover David Bowie and T-Rex The Enemy Tickets

Coventry trio pull in string quartet for special acoustic show

Photo Gallery: The Enemy

The Enemy kept the Mencap covers tradition going tonight (November 27) by performing David Bowie and T-Rex classics at London's Union Chapel.

The band played a 40-minute acoustic set backed by a string quartet for the Little Sessions show, which saw the Coventry trio perform downbeat versions of songs from their debut album 'We'll Live And Die In These Towns'.

The three-piece also threw in Bowie classic 'Five Years' from 'The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars' plus T-Rex's 'Cosmic Dancer'.

Announcing the latter singer Tom Clarke, who was dressed in a black and yellow striped Adidas tracksuit, said: "We are going to play a song we have never played live before."

As the band rounded off their performance with 'This Song' they slipped in a few bars from Lou Reed's 'Walk On The Wild Side'.

"I am not going to bang on about Mencap all night," added Clarke. "But thanks for coming down today and buying a ticket and donating to charity. It has been an absolute honour and a privilege to be here."

The singer then leaned over the stage and shook hands with a few fans before departing.

The Enemy played:

'We'll Live And Die In These Towns'
'Away From Here'
'Its Not OK'
'Happy Birthday Jane'
'Five Years'
'You're Not Alone'
'Cosmic Dancer'
'This Song'

Earlier, Liverpool trio The Wombats warmed the crowd up with an upbeat performance featuring the likes of 'Let's Dance To Joy Division', 'Kill The Director' and 'Patricia The Stripper'.

Introducing the latter singer Matthew Murphy told the crowd: "This song is about falling in love with a prostitute so I feel pretty bad singing it in a church."

Speaking to NME.COM after the performance he elaborated on the topic: "I feel quite sacreligious singing songs about prostitutes, whores and cocaine but sometimes things have got to be done in that kind of Spinal Tap way. It was refreshing to do something different like that because we have just been touring so much this year. So we felt it was nice way to round it off by playing in a church."

Drummer Dan Haggis added: "Hearing The Enemy was amazing tonight because it was really different from their full on live shows. I almost preferred this show tonight to be honest because Tom's vocals came across so well.

"It also felt very special playing for us too. In fact it was the most goosebumps I've had in my life at a gig and hearing the songs in that context was great. Obviously it was nice to be part of Mencap and do something for a good cause too."

Opening proceedings were north London newcomers Noah And The Whale, who performed four tracks, including newly released single 'Do Do Do' and 'Rocks And Daggers'.