The final night of the Playing With A Different Sex 45th anniversary tour lands at a packed-out Electric Ballroom, as The Au Pairs bring this latest chapter to a close. While the tour has not been without controversy—centred on Lesley Woods fronting a new line-up—the mood inside the venue is resolutely focused on the music, and the legacy being revisited.
Au Pairs @ Electric Ballroom
Opening the night is Gina Birch of The Raincoats, delivering a set that is as emotionally raw as it is politically sharp. She begins alone with I Am Rage, a stark, spoken-sung piece that catalogues personal and societal frustrations, immediately setting the tone.
Introducing her backing band, The Unreasonables—Jenny Green and Marie Merlet—Birch expands into a fuller sound with Feminist Song, its message direct and unflinching. The trio’s chemistry quickly becomes apparent, particularly on I Will Never Wear Stilettos, where humour and practicality collide in a wry commentary on self-preservation, underscored by tight harmonies and fluid instrument swapping.
There’s a restless energy to the set’s structure. Causing Trouble Again carries a bittersweet edge, while Don’t Fight Your Friends reframes conflict as something better directed at systems of power rather than personal relationships. Birch’s ability to balance levity and seriousness gives the performance a compelling ebb and flow.
That balance tips towards poignancy with I Thought I’d Live Forever, dedicated to Birch’s mother, who she reveals is nearing the end of her life. It’s a deeply affecting moment, delivered with visible restraint. The mood gently lifts with Happiness, complete with a playful recorder solo, before the trio lean into heavier textures on I Play My Bass Loud, a low-end-driven statement of intent.
Closing with a communal rendition of Lola by The Kinks, Birch transforms the room into a singalong celebration of identity and acceptance—an uplifting end to a set that covers a wide emotional spectrum.
After the break, The Au Pairs take the stage with Come Again, immediately locking into a taut, groove-heavy sound that fuses post-punk angularity with funk precision. From the outset, the band sound cohesive and energised. Woods’ distinctive vocal delivery remains commanding, while bassist Estella Adeyeri (of Big Joanie) provides a dynamic, constantly shifting foundation.
We’re So Cool and Love Song follow in quick succession, the latter retaining its layered, slightly uneasy tension while still driving forward with purpose. A standout arrives early with their take on David Bowie’s Repetition. Slowed and steeped in menace, the song’s portrayal of domestic violence is rendered with chilling clarity, its rhythmic undercurrent subtly emphasised.
New material sits comfortably alongside the classics. Let It Go surges with punchy momentum, while Diet delivers a sharp rebuke to control and expectation, its groove underpinned by a sense of defiance. The political bite remains as relevant as ever—Armagh still cuts deep, its themes of institutional violence and denial resonating strongly.
The middle section of the set leans into both groove and interplay. Cross The Bridge carries a unifying energy, while Dear John allows space for expressive guitar work between Woods and guitarist Alex Ward. Headache (For Michelle) ramps up the intensity, with Adeyeri’s animated presence adding a visual counterpart to the band’s sonic drive.
Among the newer tracks, In The Wrong Body stands out as a powerful and empathetic anthem addressing gender dysphoria, offering one of the evening’s most uplifting and forward-looking moments. Unfinished Business follows with a darker tone, before the band close the main set with It’s Obvious—a rallying cry for equality that prompts a full-venue singalong.
The encore keeps the energy high. You and Set-Up are delivered with urgency and precision, before the night reaches its climax with a blistering rendition of Piece Of My Heart by Erma Franklin, later immortalised by Janis Joplin. Woods pushes her voice to its limits, matching the intensity of the performance as the crowd responds in kind.
As the final notes ring out, the sense of occasion is undeniable. Whatever the debates surrounding this iteration of the band, The Au Pairs demonstrate that their music—urgent, political, and emotionally charged—still resonates with force.
Live review of The Au Pairs + Gina Birch @ Electric Ballroom , London by Simon Phillips on 1st May 2026. Photography by Adrian Hextall.
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