MOODY MOMSEN'S MEDICINE

YOU know her face (or maybe not, if you're over 18).
She's the one who turned from the innocent little J to the bad girl hairband-wearing queen of mean in Gossip Girl.
She's the barely out-of-school face of Madonna and daughter Lourdes' new fashion range. But right now, she's the heavily made-up rock star that fronts The Pretty Reckless.

Taylor Momsen, who plays a one-off show at the 02 Academy Islington next week (Thursday, Aug 19) has accomplished a huge amount during her short 17 year years on this earth – and happily divided opinion amongst critics.

(No official video, this odd clip dubs the album recording over the live performance)

Right now, her eyeshadow is so black and limbs so spindly that The Corpse Bride would be jealous, while her hair's that trashy blonde that draws comparisons to the other, older dame of grunge Courtney Love.
But although her gruff vocals and moody attitude ring truly familiar, Momsen's having none of it.

She's carving out a reputation of her own and distancing herself from hints that she's anything like Love.

And this could well be true. Momsen claims to have been writing songs since she was five years old, and has been acting since the age of three, later going on to performing arts school. Love was into her 20s before entering the entertainment world – as Nancy Spungen in biopic Sid and Nancy, and only formed Hole at the age of 25.

Perhaps it's all that arts school training, but Momsen doesn't look the least bit uncomfortable squeezed between her unlikely band of relatively older, darker, hairier men during sofa interviews – that's bassist Mark Damon, percussionist Jamie Perkins and guitarist Ben Phillips, who co-writes songs with Momsen.
Aside from playing this year's V festival, the band's Islington appearance is their only scheduled show on these shores this month.

And while this talk of child actors and arts school probably jars with the grunge image, it's worth trying to forget this while listening to the music for the first time.
Album track My Medicine reveals the depth of soul that lies behind the cloud of celebrity obscuring the young musician's genuine talent, while Make Me Wanna Die is the teenage angst theme of the Gossip Girl generation.

So, if the following quote coming from the mouth of a 17-year-old is hard to swallow, then try to forget it when listening to the songs.
Here's Momsen's description of her debut album as an honest chronicle of her experiences: “The record is about life. It covers everything: love, death and music itself. It’s rock and roll. It’s sex. It’s drugs. It’s religion. It’s politics. Each song tells a story about the trials and tribulations and emotional struggles that I’ve experienced or observed. It’s not a happy pop record, but it’s not Satan-worshiping either. The lyrics aren’t meant to be taken literally, they are open to interpretation.”
It'll be good to judge them on their merit when they reach Islington next week.

• Light Me Up, the debut album from The Pretty Reckless, is released on August 30 and single Miss Nothing comes out on August 23.

TAYLOR MOMSEN'S UK TRIP, SMALL FACES AND THE WHO IN SENTIMENTAL MOD SEASON, AIR ROADIES ARE REAL, FOALS FOR THE YOUNG, TWEETING LIBERTINES + SCARY ALICE COOPER

I KNOW Taylor Momsen’s moody teenage act fronting The Pretty Reckless is a bit much for some, but I’m hoping to judge for myself when she plays 02 Academy Islington next week (August 19). I like what I’ve heard so far. Plus, she’s the only person I know who wears more eyeshadow than me.

• Congratulations Eddie Six Strings, the first-ever female winner of the UK Air Guitar World Championships at Islington Academy on Friday. A close inspection of the rules reveals air roadies are allowed. Are there air amps to carry?

• Is it the season for Mod sentimentality? We already know about The Who’s convention at Dingwalls (October 3) but it seems the scooter brigade will be stopping off at Relentless Garage (August 15) for the Small Faces convention – billed as seven hours of 100 per cent Small Faces “Mod paradise”. As well as the usual collectable merchandise, there are six bands, some very special guests and screenings of rare footage.

• Here’s a nice touch. Foals are playing a special MTV Presents show for 14 to 18-year-olds at Dingwalls (August 25) – shame I’m a teenage lifetime away from being let in.

• I wonder how many twitter followers Carl Barat had before promising to announce a reunion date “for a little London four-piece” (hint – The Libertines) at HMV Forum on August 25 on his account this week. When I last checked, he had 2,637.

• On Tuesday, Alice Cooper hosted the scariest talent contest at London Dungeon, where he selected the great est sideshows and freaks. But why? So he can scare the hell out of ticketholders heading to his Halloween Night of Fear at Camden Roundhouse (October 31, November 1).

LIAM GALLAGHER IN JOG SHOCK + LITTLE J'S RECKLESS MEDICINE

WHAT'S happening to our rock idols? They’re getting respectable in their old age. My spies spotted an early morning jogger legging it through Hampstead last week, dressed in all the kit. Closer inspection revealed it to be Liam Gallagher. I’d say this is a more shocking image than the usual pics of him swearing and scowling at photographers.

• There’s something uncomfortable about watching Gossip Girl actress Taylor Momsen fronting The Pretty Reckless. Over here recently on tour with her 40-something band, the 16-year-old singer/actress resembled a character from Tim Burton’s The Corpse Bride – spindly, pale, and with eyeshadow so heavy, her eyes were two bottomless holes. In interviews she came across almost as moody as her character little Jenny has become, and equally as pretentious. But, I’m ready to give her the benefit of the doubt – it could just be the trappings of fame and naivety of youth. Her mesh of Courtney Love grungy angst and Juliette Lewis’s country twang is mesmerising and her vocals are unexpectedly soul-laden. Single Make Me Wanna Die is out now and debut album is released later this year. Look out for My Medicine, easily the best of the short selection I’ve heard so far. This is the clearest footage of the My Medicine I could find.

• One Taste, one of south London’s hottest underground music and spoken word nights, has been the launchpad for many fledgling unsigned acts. Scroobius Pip, Beth Rowley and Newton Falkner have all graced its stage and now it’s coming to Camden. One Taste Koko brings together unsigned acts with established artists in an alternative showcase on June 16, featuring Va Voi Woon, Polarbear, Kate Tempest, David J, and Mercury nominees Portico Quartet.