David Devant and his Spirit Wife
100 Club, London

BURSTING on the scene back in the heady days of Britpop, David Devant and his Spirit Wife were known for mixing music with mirth and truly coming to life on stage.

Their success was down to a combination of magic tricks, theatrical folly and cracking tunes with pun-driven, fun-filled lyrics that drew a dedicated following.

You don’t so much go to a Devant gig as experience the musicianship, lyrics and personality shining through. Led by The Vessel (Mikey Georgeson), who channels the spirit of early 20^th century magician Devant, the band includes Foz Foster on guitar, The Colonel on bass and Professor Rimschott on drums and they deliver a set, sometimes verging on the surreal, that's as whirlwind as its whimsical.

Their numbers span the band's 20-year plus career. Ginger, a call to arms for redheads everywhere, gets the room rocking and Cookie and Pimlico plough a similar furrow, mixing early 1970s Bowie, glam rock, some Kinks and maybe a bit too much Roxy Music with acerbic but charming lyrical takes on life.

Forthcoming single Sally is played twice, with the audience encouraged to film and share footage for a new video. But the real pleasure is in the mix of audience singalongs and participation, most enjoyably encapsulated during the Bontempi-like wig-out classic I’m Not Even Going to Try. It closes the night and brings smiles to the whole room.

The Vessel's adept at keeping the audience rapt, although a little more of the magical mystery would be welcome, and his regular call of “Is everybody happy?” is met by a respectful rather than resounding “Yes.”