Category: Gig Gallery

Warmduscher & CLT DRP at Concorde 2, Brighton, 9th April 2022

When Warmduscher came together, made up from fragments of other bands, it felt like a great experiment that might or might not last. Happily, the band has done nothing but go from strength to strength – a hybrid of genres meshed and held together by sheer talent and an occasional disco ball.

On Saturday, Brighton had the pleasure of their company on a seaside trip to Concorde 2. Starting strongly with the heady trio of Big Wilma, Midnight Dipper and The Salamander, it was an early reminder that they have accumulated a huge heap of accomplished tracks to choose from and, despite providing matinee and evening performances, there was no let up in energy, the sold out crowd loving every second. There’s no doubting that Warmduscher are rated, but every possibility that they’re still hugely underrated – if the chance to see them live comes along, grab it with both hands.

Solid support on the night came from local punk favourites CLT DRP; a good choice to kick things off, photos from both sets below.

Hosted by JOY.

CLT DRP

Warmduscher

Words and photos by Siobhan

11th April 2022

White Lies & VLURE at Chalk, Brighton, 18th March 2022

The return of White Lies with new album As I Try Not To Fall Apart has cemented their ability to create powerful songs that, despite the perceived sadness in their titles, have the ability to make people very happy. Out on tour around the UK, theirs is an impressive show on many levels.

An interesting pairing taking VLURE along as support – though both bands are with Red Light Management – the Glasgow five-piece have made a huge dent in the music scene captivating smaller venues, but how would this transfer to a bigger stage further from the crowd, many of whom potentially hadn’t heard or seen them before? In a genius move I’ve not witnessed previously, the simple answer was for vocalist Hamish Hutcheson to perform the whole set from the raised ledge in the photo pit – apart from the jump over to wander through and sing up close to the audience (props to security for ensuring the mic lead didn’t claim any victims on its ever extending journey). It’s hard to do the VLURE experience justice in a few words – intense, emotional, and just the right side of chaotic, they’re without doubt one of the best new bands around and clearly give the same maximum effort wherever they play.

And so to White Lies – it’s always a bold move to start with one of your most successful songs and the opening notes of Farewell to the Fairground set the pace for a show full of formidable tracks. By this stage Chalk was absolutely rammed with fans old and new enjoying what it has to be said was a faultless showcase. The band sounded great, the music was beautiful, the lighting was spot on, there was a lovely atmosphere, and really you can’t ask for much more than that.

The new songs are strong and along with the title track from As I Try Not To Fall Apart, other stand-outs came in the shape of Am I Really Going To Die and There Is No Cure For It. The old favourites were very much on hand as well, displaying the quality of their songwriting from early on in To Lose My Life, Unfinished Business and with only a tiny hint of amusement that the crowd was actively cheering for Death.

The tour continues tonight in Dublin, then heads for Liverpool, Norwich, Oxford and London through the week. Go to see White Lies and discover VLURE – or go to see VLURE and marvel at the long-standing talent of White Lies. Either way, this was a mighty return and an excellent night’s entertainment.

(White Lies European dates follow until the beginning of May).

White Lies | VLURE

Event hosted by Lout Promotions

Words / photos by Morgan / Siobhan

21st March 2022

Lynks & Jessica Winter at The Green Door Store, Brighton, 17th March 2022

From their Brighton debut at the tiny Rossi Bar two years ago, the Lynks message has clearly spread. After stealing the show at Mutations Festival in November, tickets for the Green Door gig started flying out and those who were lucky enough to grab one were not disappointed.

First though, proof if it were needed that you should always catch the support slot. Stunning vocals from Jessica Winter and the stage presence of a film noir starlet captivated the room. The perfect way to kick things off.

To the strains of The Wedding March and clad in a psychedelic bodysuit, Lynks walked down the aisle through the crowd and jumped on stage, catapulting straight into live favourites This is the Hit and Everyone’s Hot (And I’m Not). New track Hey Joe (Relax) was just as well received, with sing backs from the heaving crowd continuing throughout the set.

Ably backed by the Lynks Shower Gel trio, a Lynks show is an immersive experience that never fails to lift the spirits. Finishing with the ever popular Str8 Acting, the crowd response was as loud as I’ve heard at the venue and justifiably so. The tour continues tonight at London hotspot Heaven, then moves through Bristol, Birmingham, Nottingham, Leeds, Birkenhead, Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Southampton and Margate – catch it if you can.

Lynks | Jessica Winter

Words and photos by Siobhan 

18th March 2022

The Cribs & The Blinders at Chalk, Brighton, 12th March 2022

With a back catalogue spanning eighteen years and every album full of fan favourites, it’s difficult to imagine how The Cribs pick their setlist and still leave everyone happy with their choices. I guess if you don’t have a bad song in there you can’t really go wrong.

Their release of latest album Night Network was a welcome return that lifted the shadows of lockdown, and the anticipation of the accompanying tour proved utterly justified as they hit the stage at Chalk in Brighton on Saturday.

First up with a lot of support in the crowd, The Blinders treated us to a mix of older tracks and others taken from this year’s Electric Kool-Aid EP. Their advancement from a trio to a five-piece adds extra layers to their performance, though the dark undertone is undeniably still present.

By the time The Cribs walk out to the heady hat-trick of Running into You, I’m a Realist and Our Bovine Public, Chalk is heaving with the unmistakable atmosphere that comes with each and every one of their gigs. You won’t find a better crowd and, no matter the size of the venue, it always feels like it’s just a big group of friends out to see that band they love – the group of friends has extended majorly over the years but the love for the band never dips. Whatever the circumstance, when  you meet another Cribs fan you just know they’re alright.

The energy continues on and off stage alike, word perfect singalongs from the crowd to everything from an unexpected rendition of I’m Alright Me to an acoustic Shoot the Poets and later set stalwarts Be Safe and Pink Snow, the band, mosh pit and surfers barely pausing for breath.

After the show ends, the surrounding streets of Brighton are filled with reasonably in key variants of the opening chords of Another Number. Whatever else is going on in the world one thing remains dependable, you’ll never leave a Cribs gig without a smile on your face – here’s to many more.

The Cribs | The Blinders

Words and photos by Siobhan

15th March 2022

 

Franz Ferdinand at Concorde 2, Brighton, 11th March 2022

Launching their 20-track greatest hits collection Hits to the Head, Franz Ferdinand dropped into Brighton last night to play an intimate outstore performance for local record shop Resident. Back at Concorde 2 for the first time since April 2004, it was a fantastic opportunity to see them in a smaller venue and marvel at the extent of their back catalogue.

Dark of the Matinee, Walk Away, Michael, Always Ascending, the hits just kept coming and the newest formation of the band, including Audrey Tait on drums, sounded absolutely on point. What a fabulous night – captured in pictures here by Mike Burnell.

Franz Ferdinand
Hosted by Resident and One Inch Badge

Photos © Mike Burnell (iso400.com)
Words by Siobhan

12th March 2022

 

 

Pigeonhole & Average Life Complaints, The Green Door Store Brighton, 12th February 2022

Following two weeks of isolation, the prospect of live music was even sweeter than usual. And it’s safe to say that the bill at Brighton’s Green Door Store on Saturday didn’t disappoint.

Up first but could just as easily have headlined, Average Life Complaints received no complaints but shouts for a “3 hour set” instead. With a hint of The Cure in their music but very much on today’s terms, the four piece impressed to a high level.

Next up, in another name anomaly, Pigeonhole were actually pretty hard to pigeonhole. With elements of rock and post-punk, their organic line-up lends itself to a fairly chaotic performance that was much embraced by the crowd.

Altogether a fine night and lovely to see the place packed and bouncing. Curated by Only Mellor – photo gallery below.

Average Life Complaints

Pigeonhole

Words and photos by Siobhan

15th February 2022