Presidents of the United States of America gig

A good joke, though – catchy tunes and a self-mocking sensibility ensured their self-titled debut, played in full tonight, became a top-selling gold record. No one would have thought that the trio would still be here almost 20 years later, but they are, and still going strong. 

Six albums into their career (that’s one album more than the number of strings the band have on their self-modified guitar and bass), the Presidents have proved everyone wrong. From hitting the big time with the likes of hit single Lump (a pop-culture smash that won the ultimate accolade in being riffed on as Gump by ‘Weird’ Al Yankovic), they had a slurry of equally funny and well-embraced singles on their debut, such as Peaches (about tinned fruit) and Dune Buggy. Follow-up II didn’t quite hit the same heights (although it was certified gold, too) and in 1998 the trio went their separate ways. 

Reformations, at the turn of the millenium and then, in earnest, in 2004, followed, and the group remain as popular today as they were at the height of grunge, their energy and full-on fun vibes a crowd-pleasing combo. Playing their music nearly two decades later is quite an achievement for a band who sang on their debut record: “We’re not going to make it!”

The Forum, 9-17 Highgate Road, Kentish Town, NW5 1JY
fri, mar 16 | Doors at 7pm |  £20  
Tube | Kentish Town 
venues.meanfiddler.com/the-forum