On 17 December, Zig A Zig Ah! plays host to a special Christmas show from former East 17 vocalist Brian Harvey. Named after a Spice Girls lyric, Zig A Zig Ah! has been running since September last year at Concrete, E1, and is at the forefront of London’s 90s revival nights. Previous live guests have included Sweet Female Attitude, who were behind the massive late nineties pop garage tune Flowers.
While it was Tony Mortimer who wrote the songs for East 17, it was Harvey who hit the headlines for his crazy bad-boy antics. Who can forget his boast about necking twelve ecstasy tablets in one night, or running himself over? Originally considered as Take That’s lesser rivals, back in the day East 17 got one over on the nation’s favourite man-band by bagging a Christmas number one, while their peers were denied a festive chart topper by Mr. Blobby.
Despite various attempts, the East 17 reunion has been a bit of a non-starter. Harvey is currently exiled from the band due to questions about his commitment. In the interim the front-man has relaunched himself as a solo artist, and was subject of a documentary about attempts to revive his music career.
At this special Christmas show, Harvey will play all of the big East 17 hits within the relatively intimate confines of Concrete. No doubt the biggest cheer of the night will be saved for the stone-cold Christmas classic Stay Another Day. Whether Harvey will don the trademark puffa jacket from the video is another matter entirely.
Brian Harvey plays Zig A Zig Ah! at Concrete (below Pizza East), 56 Shoreditch High Street on Saturday 17 December, 9pm-2am. £8 Adv/ £10 door. Tickets here.
By Nick Levine
