Live – The Ninth Wave | Youth Sector | Priestgate at The Hope & Ruin Brighton

The Ninth Wave, Youth Sector & Priestgate at The Hope & Ruin Brighton, 9th October 2021

Another tour that’s been on the receiving end of postponements and rescheduling finally made its way to Brighton on Saturday; The Ninth Wave ensuring that everyone was left feeling the wait was more than worthwhile.

Supporting the supports is always important. It’s where all your favourite artists started out, it’s a chance for newer acts to play in front of different crowds and get their name out there. But if you needed any further reason to get down early, this line up offered it up in bucketloads.

First up, an absolute killer set from Priestgate. Making a quantum leap into seemingly everyone’s ‘best new bands’ lists (and rightly so), it feels like lockdown has given them an opportunity to tighten up everything to bursting point, the inevitable implosion of which results in some off the scale tunes and a performance to match. Love that feeling of finding something special and wanting to see and hear more – don’t miss them if they’re playing anywhere near you.

A change of pace and tailoring as Youth Sector picked up the middle slot. With their riffs as slick as their suits, they didn’t put a foot wrong as they treated the crowd to their zippy brand of art rock. It was certainly shaping up to be quite a night.

Finally, the return of The Ninth Wave, the packed crowd delighted to see them back on stage. From the almost tribal Happy Days to the beauty and melancholy of Piece and Pound Coins, it’s clear that it’s not just the old songs but the new songs too that are firm favourites with the crowd. While there’s always a theatricality about their shows, the band also look like they’re enjoying what they do and it’s fair to say that everyone else in the room is of the same frame of mind. The Ninth Wave keep going from strength to strength, it will be intriguing to see what comes next.