The Beyoncé Antidote: Kate Nash live in Vancouver

by Ed Collings-Wells | photos by Ian Mawson

Kate Nash is a pleasure to watch. It’s not because for an hour and a half she beams and stomps emphatically across the stage in her Dr Martens, pigtails flailing and Epiphone slung low. And it isn’t because she hammers her voice from start to finish. It’s because she’s an artist who has undergone a significant evolution. The Kate Nash of today is not the Kate Nash of six years ago.

“My first record was such a whirlwind,” says Nash. “I was like whoa, slow down.”

Although there’s been no sign of the British singer slowing down since her 2007 debut Made of Bricks, she has made a significant pivot with the release of her new record Girl Talk (Dine Alone Records). The album is an attitude-ridden garage rock record that lends itself to being played loud, live, and raw. Nash has ditched the piano in favor of the bass guitar, something she says she needed to do “to feel powerful and loud” because she “was going through such a shitty time.”

Watching Nash at the Electric Owl, as she writhes and dances on stage, there is no doubt she is really enjoying touring her new material. Backed by her all-girl band in matching polka dot dresses, Nash is the antidote to faux female independence. She is the real deal and it shows, not least when she sings ‘Free my Pussy,’ her protest song written in support of Pussy Riot and against suppression in general.

“I have so many young girl fans that will come and open up to me about shit. I always want girls to be able to stand up for themselves and make the choices they want to make.”

As the crowd invades the stage to dance with the band, Nash seems to be winning the battle over sexism and apathy.

“So anyway, this song is about not giving a fuck,” she says, then through gritted teeth, “but also about really giving a fuck.”