Live: M O T H X R @ The Borderline, London

by | Nov 26, 2015

MOTHXR live at the Borderline

M O T H X R at The Borderline, 23/11/2015 (Thanira Rates Photograpy)

M O T H X R at The Borderline, 23/11/2015 (Thanira Rates Photograpy)

The down to earth new-wave-soul-electronic Brooklyn-based band M O T H X R (formerly known as Mother) played a sold out gig on a cold Monday evening at Soho’s The Borderline. It’s the second time that London has seen them recently and now they have an even greater legion of listeners.

M O T H X R at The Borderline, 23/11/2015 (Thanira Rates Photograpy)

Penn Badgley serving as frontman, with friends Simon Ocroft (guitar), Darren Will (keyboards) and Jimmy Giannopolous (bass) have great stage charisma and this comes across particularly strongly in songs Easy, Victim and Centerfold.

M O T H X R at The Borderline, 23/11/2015 (Thanira Rates Photograpy)

M O T H X R at The Borderline, 23/11/2015 (Thanira Rates Photograpy)

Penn started the set with Stranger, an eerie and sensual song released this year on a compilation album by their current label, Kitsuné Records. The crowd swaying from side to side were fascinated by his natural theatrics and slinky performance.  His compelling vocal range is set to inspire love making….perhaps?  Of course Penn Badgley is also a well known actor for his roles in Gossip Girl and Greetings From Tim Buckley.

M O T H X R at The Borderline, 23/11/2015 (Thanira Rates Photograpy)

M O T H X R at The Borderline, 23/11/2015 (Thanira Rates Photograpy)

Simon’s funky guitar and layered beats are blended with synth pieces and form the base for Penn’s deeper and rougher vocals in Centerfold, a feature that really differentiates from the falsetto in other tunes.

M O T H X R at The Borderline, 23/11/2015 (Thanira Rates Photograpy)

M O T H X R at The Borderline, 23/11/2015 (Thanira Rates Photograpy)

Fight the Feeling was also added to their short London set. Yes…short… but promising. Afterwards the gig the band were hanging out with fans and giving attention to every single one who approached them. M O T H X R have been playing live, touring in quite a few countries and making singles for more than a year… without a record released! Yeah… M O T H X R is just getting started…and is here to stay.

The band had a busy week, playing in Mexico City at the Corona Capital and releasing new single Touch from their 11 songs album Centerfold (available on the 26th of February 2016)

[photoshelter-gallery g_id=”G0000OIIm8j59AFM” g_name=”MOTHXR” f_show_caption=”t” f_show_slidenum=”t” img_title=”casc” pho_credit=”iptc” f_link=”t” f_enable_embed_btn=”t” f_send_to_friend_btn=”t” f_fullscreen=”t” f_show_watermark=”t” f_htmllinks=”t” f_mtrx=”t” fsvis=”f” width=”600″ height=”450″ f_constrain=”t” bgcolor=”#ffffff” bgtrans=”t” btype=”new” bcolor=”#CCCCCC” crop=”f” twoup=”t” trans=”flip” tbs=”4000″ f_ap=”t” linkdest=”c” f_topbar=”f” f_bbar=”f” f_bbarbig=”” f_smooth=”f” f_up=”f” target=”_self” ]

Photography & review by Thanira Rates. Thanira has her own great site here: www.thanirarates.com

M O T H X R at The Borderline, London, 23/11/2015

Liang Lawrence (Ana Chen)

Liang Lawrence Unveils Reflective New Single ‘A Day Off In Margaritaville’ Ahead Of Autumn UK Tour

Rising alt-pop storyteller Liang Lawrence has shared her shimmering new single A Day Off In Margaritaville, a vibrant, emotionally layered track that marks the first offering from her upcoming EP It’s A Funny Thing, due later this year via The Other Songs.

Mae Stephens (Hannah Burton)

Mae Stephens Returns With Infectious New Single ‘Tiny Voice’

Breakout pop star Mae Stephens is back with a bang as she drops her irresistibly offbeat new single, Tiny Voice — a track as addictive as it is relatable. Following the runaway global success of her hit If We Ever Broke Up, which racked up over 500 million streams, landed her a Top 15 UK single, and earned Gold certifications in both the UK and US, Stephens continues to show why she’s one of the most exciting new voices in pop.

Maya Lane (Press)

Maya Lane Announces New Single ‘I Don’t Know You Yet’ And Debut London Headline Show Ahead Of New EP

Rising UK pop-country star Maya Lane continues her impressive 2025 trajectory with the release of a stunning new single, I Don’t Know You Yet, out now. The introspective, stripped-back track offers a poignant taste of her forthcoming EP, The Hurt And The Healing, due out on 4th September, and precedes her debut headline show at London’s The Grace on 3rd September.

Perera Elsewhere (Hugo Holger Schneider x Gene Glover)

Perera Elsewhere Returns With Electrifying Double Single Ft. Andy S & Announces New Album

Berlin-based, UK-raised experimental artist Perera Elsewhere (aka Sasha Perera) is back with a high-voltage double single, F*ck Le System / Time Will Tell, out now on Friends Of Friends – both featuring viral Ivorian rapper Andy S. The release serves as a bold statement on feminine strength, social rebellion, and sonic experimentation.

Don McLean @ The Long Road Festival (Press)

The Long Road Festival 2025 Assembles Its Biggest Line-Up Yet For August Bank Holiday Weekend

Now entering its sixth and most ambitious year to date, The Long Road Festival 2025 is set to deliver its boldest celebration of country, Americana, and roots music yet, taking over the scenic Stanford Hall in Leicestershire from 22nd–24th August. With more than 80 artists across six stages, the weekend promises an immersive blend of genre-spanning music, authentic Americana culture, and inclusive community spirit — and has already become the festival’s fastest-selling edition to date.

Stevie Wonder @ BST Hyde Park 2025 (Bethan Miller-Carey)

A Night In Wonderland: Stevie Wonder And Guests Delight At BST Hyde Park 2025

“Awwwwight!” drawls Stevie Wonder, arms flung wide, grinning like a teenager trying on cockney charm for the first...
Neil Young @ BST Hyde Park (Trudi Knight)

Dance, Shadow And Harvest Under The Full Moon: Van Morrison, Yusuf Islam And Neil Young And The Chrome Hearts At BST Hyde Park 2025

Gone are the sparkled cowgirls and pop princesses of previous BST gigs. It’s the turn of the Baby Boomer generation to make up the core crowd of Hyde Park – a sea of grey hair, straw hats, and sensible shoes. They reapply sun cream religiously, have brought picnic blankets, and can be forgiven for taking their time getting up and down from the ground between acts. This is the generation that invented outdoor rock and folk festivals – and they’re here to show the rest of us how it’s done.

Poptones (Rune Gro-Nielsen)

Poptones Play Their Wild Card With New Single ‘Say Something Now’ Ahead of Forthcoming Album ‘Pure’

Danish experimental rock trio Poptones have unveiled their new single Say Something Now, offering a taste of the unpredictability and emotional depth that defines their upcoming sophomore album Pure, out 26th September via Happy Metal Records. Where lead single Skin Of Sea teased a shift toward expansive and instinctive composition, Say Something Now dives headlong into that experimental impulse—guided, intriguingly, by the rules of UNO. Yes, the beloved card game.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This

Share Thing