Our Lady J and Her Gospel for the Godless

On Thursday night we went to see Our Lady J in her new show, 'Gospel for the Godless', supported by her London Train-To-Kill Choir (aka the London Show Choir). As a self-confessed post-transsexual pre-Android princess she has the stage presence she needs to carry a show but, more, she has the sheer talent to produce the goods and make us live in her world of the gospel electric. She was magnificent and held the audience in her hand from the first song.

She came on stage and sat behind a baby grand with chunky church candles adding a glow to the proceedings, Mac and electronic keyboard within reach and two microphones to electrify her voice for some of the songs. After a couple of songs she started chatting to us and the choir came on for the first of their several visits. Timing was perfect and the choir added both a lustiness and an ethereal quality to the music and performance - Our Lady J has worked with them before and I was most impressed. The only downside came at what should have been half time and Our Lady stayed on stage to play and conduct the choir's solo song since their leader was off - that meant she didn't have the chance to go off and change into her second half frock.

I liked listening to her stories of growing up in a family that only had records of classical music and pre-1960 show tunes and how her older brother was made to shoot his CDs when their parents discovered them. How she organised Boob-Aid to raise money for her (impressive) new boobs with help from the Scissor Sisters and Dolly Parton amongst a host of others. How she ran away from home at the age of 16 the only way she knew how - by getting a college scholarship. Most entertaining!

Of course, with Our Lady J, it's the music that comes first and it was great to finally hear her singing the songs from her EP live as well as the totally infectious and camp, 'Pink Prada Purse'. I loved 'Picture Of A Man' and '1, 2, 3, 4 Train To Kill' (with everyone joining in on the chorus). My jaw dropped audibly with a mighty *thunk* when I recognised the opening sequence to Buffy Sainte-Marie's 'Little Wheel Spin And Spin' played quickly. I sort of expected it to then morph into another song but no, Our Lady played the song right through in High Disco style, turning it into an infectious disco classic - and, you know what? It worked! It was astonishing to hear an acoustic song transformed in her careful hands into a mighty disco stomper. I was amazed. Another favourite was 'Hurt' from her new album with the Choir joining in and building the song into a touching, magnificent, sonic edifice. I loved it.

After the show we joined the queue to say hello and get a signed copy of the EP (a doubler of the original EP plus both versions of 'Pink Prada Purse'). When my turn came I had to mention 'Little Wheel' and Our Lady seemed delighted that I'd recognised it and liked it and then she went on to say that Buffy Sainte-Marie had started producing dance music like 'No No Keshagesh' and we were off and running talking about Buffy. It's nice to meet another enthusiastic fan. And, best of all, her disco version of 'Little Wheel' *will* be on her new album. I can't wait.

Our Lady J has been at the Soho Theatre for two weeks and is now off to Ireland before heading home to America to finish her record. Hopefully she'll be back when the record is released so watch out for her next shows - you must go to see her, you might be surprised but you won't be disappointed. I'll be there.