Category: Live Music

Benefits & Polite Bureaux at The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, 23rd October 2024

Another night of great music in Brighton as Benefits transformed The Hope & Ruin into an immersive sound and light experience not for the faint hearted. Experimental? Industrial? Political? Poetic? All of the above to be fair, noise levels rising as the lighting dipped between neon and darkness. An impressive bank of keyboards and pedals, and an understated violin that brought the spirit of the Bad Seeds before the following tracks took us into Faithless territory with an exasperated vocal putting the world to rights, the crowd eager to join in with yelling ‘Shit Britain‘ into the night. Latest single Land of the Tyrants offers an insight into the band’s newer work, the same protagonism with a subtler feel, all the better to get inside your head and stay there. Despite the intensity of the music and its delivery, there’s a poignancy about a Benefits performance, lots to think about, lots to talk about, no question that something very special just happened.

You know when a band gets their support act just right? So, that happened too. Polite Bureaux already have a strong local following and the opportunity to impress a chunk of the crowd new to them was not wasted. Their live shows still have that serrated edge that is intrinsic to their sound, but there’s no denying that the set-up is becoming a well-oiled machine that spits out quality every time. Love to see this band doing so well and sticking to their own terms in the process.

A captivating night, and kudos for the pre-set playlist, an incongruous fit including the likes of Inner City and Fiction Factory that somehow warmed things up perfectly.

Hosted by Love Thy Neighbour

Polite Bureaux

Benefits

Benefits pending UK dates:
24th Oct – Where Else? Margate
25th Oct – The George Tavern, London
26th Oct – Le Pub, Newport
27th Oct – The Grove, Newcastle Upon Tyne

Words and photos © Siobhan – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram

Bob Vylan at Chalk, Brighton, 22nd October 2024

After a string of summer festivals and dates in the States, Bob Vylan kicked out on the UK leg of their latest tour last night at a sold-out Chalk in Brighton 11 months since they last played the same venue, and it’s been a busy best part of a year in between.  Their third album Humble As the Sun released in April continues to push boundaries, tracks like He’s A Man and Dream Big already popular from previous live dates.

The foray into meditation and light stretching still starts off the show, both Bobs smiling and looking relaxed even before it begins. They state they’re happy to be back in the UK, and it’s pretty clear that the feeling is mutual. Chalk is rammed, hot and sweaty, and bouncing wall to wall before too long. Reign and GYAG appear early in the set, setting the pace  for plenty of crowd participation, the surfers making regular appearances as the evening progresses (inevitably including Bobby).

Their live reputation goes before them and they somehow manage never to disappoint. Boundless energy, a case full of jagged current-day protest songs, their voice is important amongst today’s music scene and they use their platform to maximum effect. I’m Still Here waxes lyrical, ‘A peaceful type of brother with a war inside my head, I’m all for loving living, but keep a bottle by the bed, because it’s brutal, life has been so strange and so unusual’, while He’s A Man is straighter to the point, with the opening line, ‘Loves a chicken korma, but hates the hands that cook it’. Lots to say, lots that needs to be said, Bob Vylan take no prisoners with their message but balance the heavy content with an always exceptionally fun night out. Hopefully it won’t be another year before they’re back in town.

Words and photos © Siobhan – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram

 

Saloon Dion, Tigers & Flies, Francis Pig & Nil By Habit at The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, 2nd October 2024

Hosted by Hidden Herd

If anyone was expecting a quiet night on Wednesday, they came to the wrong place!

And if anyone turned up late, they have only themselves to blame because from the moment locals Nil By Habit started their set, the pace was set for energy levels heading through the roof. Their self-description of ‘gritty disco-punk’ is pretty on the ball to be fair – streaks of The Skids, The Blockheads and Viagra Boys all fusing together with Curtis-style dance moves getting the crowd on board immediately. Oh, and then becoming part of the crowd for their final number with three of the band on stage and two performing in a hastily formed circle on the dance floor. (Plus points always added for the inclusion of a Cribs T-shirt). Their new single Do It Yourself came out yesterday if you want an insight (and something to throw shapes to) – do also check them out live if you get the chance, and expect the unexpected.

Nil By Habit

A tough act to follow, but tapping again into the vast Brighton artist pool, Francis Pig switched the mood to a darker setting with some sonically 80s’ goth vibes. Visually, hard to pin down their mix of identity/influences but if you were to throw Courtney Love and Izzy from Black Honey through a wardrobe blender you might be some way to finding vocalist Alana’s stylist of choice. Newer to the scene, they seem to be building up a fanbase keen to extol their virtues, so it looks likely that they’ll be popping up on the live circuit more frequently if you want to be a part of it.

Francis Pig

Changing the pace again, Tigers & Flies presented their own mini big-band if such a thing can be. Plenty of crossover on instruments and not displaced from how Gang of Four might have been if they’d chucked in some more dance moves and a splash of XTC. There was loads to watch and pull your attention – fans of the Keg/Duds art school of musicality would surely enjoy this band and, given how much they look to be enjoying it themselves, why not.

Tigers & Flies

Last up, and proving worth the wait, the smoothly named Saloon Dion took the headline slot in style. Off topic but is there an opening for a celebrity name-based supergroup featuring Saloon Dion, Meryl Streek and Dead Sheeran – these are the thoughts that run through my mind when I’m supposed to be doing other things. Back to the subject in hand, I attempted to avoid the much-used comparison to The Stone Roses but the vocal likeness can’t be ignored. That said, this is no tribute band and their growing catalogue of hook-laden tracks shows clearly that they have something all of their own to offer. New EP Where You’ll Find Me feels like a box full of hopeful anthems just waiting to jump out into the world. Continuing with tour dates around the UK as we speak, grab a ticket if you can for an assured good night out.

Saloon Dion

 

Words and photos © Siobhan – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram

Published 5th October 2024

Polite Bureaux, COWZ & Dead Sheeran at The Green Door Store, Brighton, 24th September 2024

Bringing the penultimate night of their Broke Britain tour to current hometown Brighton, Polite Bureaux gave a clear message that they’ve no intention of treading water as their live shows give something different every time. Tuesday’s visit to Green Door showed the sound getting bigger, the performance getting bigger and the crowd rightly so getting bigger. Love to see the word spreading and all their hard work paying off; debut album Cunt Monday is crammed with great tracks, respectfully carrying the mantle of John Cooper Clarke’s early punk poetry socio-economic commentary firmly into the current political landscape. And at the risk of repeating myself, Broke Biscuits is the perfect anthemic closing track. Hard recommend.

Shout out to the rest of the line-up too. Locals COWZ took the middle slot, their sugar-coated sharpness reminiscent of Shampoo’s mid-90s power pop offerings proving a popular choice. Opener for the night, the excellently named Dead Sheeran wasted no time getting the crowd onside with a bunch of abrasive reflections on the state of the country and some exquisite swearing throughout. Proof if needed that you should indeed always get down early for the supports.

Dead Sheeran

COWZ

Polite Bureaux

 

Words and photos © Siobhan – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram

Published 27th September 2024

Mandrake Handshake, Baby Gem & Ruby Doomsday at The Hope & Ruin, Brighton, 18th September 2024

You could be forgiven for thinking you’d worn some flowers in your hair and transported back 5 or 6 decades at last week’s Hidden Herd showcase at The Hope & Ruin. Starting off with some dream-pop charm, the eloquently named Ruby Doomsday impressed with some on-point melodies in their own compositions, and a direct hit back to ’63 with an artful cover of arguably Roy Orbison’s best song In Dreams.

Locals Baby Gem introduced the folk-psych segment of the evening, with a hint of prog and plenty of hypnotic tunes under their belt, their set was a fitting precursor for what was to follow – a blast from the past with a modern twist in the tail.

Headliners for this one were the multifarious throng that makes up Mandrake Handshake. A generous helping of psychedelia as the stage just about catered for its multiple occupants, and always something different to catch your eye as the sheer volume of instruments, vocals and dance moves worthy of Woodstock matched the visuals to the music. I suspect the crowd would have stayed much longer into the night given the chance – maybe a little nostalgia is what we all need right now.

Hosted by Hidden Herd

Ruby Doomsday

Baby Gem

Mandrake Handshake

 

Words and photos © Siobhan – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram

Published 23rd September 2024

VLURE & Frozemode at Colours Hoxton, 5th September 2024

Dork’s latest Home and Away showcase called in at Colours Hoxton last week, London outfit Frozemode bouncing onto the stage to start things off. With a fusion of garage/hip hop and a front row of regulars singing along, they’ve clearly made an impression since their formation a few years ago, ASBO BOYS released a few months back jumping out as the biggest crowd pleaser.

And though they’re from much further afield, you could have been forgiven for thinking it was a homecoming show for VLURE too based on the crowd reaction start to finish, chants of ‘one more song’ lasting way beyond the closing number. For a band yet to release their debut album, they have a treasure trove of songs each with its own intrinsic value, the newer material complementing the old while continually challenging the heights already achieved. Never just a gig, always an experience, VLURE are already leaving an indelible mark on electronic dance music. It’s a constant privilege to see their journey unfold, and that album that’s on the horizon is surely set to propel them further into the hierarchy of all that is exciting about the current UK music scene.  

Frozemode

VLURE

Words and photos © Siobhan – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram

Published 11th September 2024

Lip Critic & Polite Bureaux at Dust, Brighton, 2nd September 2024

Dropping in from NYC, Lip Critic came to make some noise and get people moving, and dutifully succeeded in both missions. With a symmetrical set up of two drum kits and two mini synths punching a big sound, their potent mix of thrash-punk, hip-hop and electro-dance music on an industrial scale is fused with elements of humour, fun and even a transient art installation as all four band members play musical statues and hold the frozen pose for much longer than you’d think feasible. A call for audience participation doesn’t always pay off but Brighton gig-regular Fiona was more than up for the challenge, and some fine dance moves were executed alongside vocalist Bret Kaser. Lip Critic’s album Hex Dealer is available now – check it out and give it some Spinal Tap shaped love by turning it up to 11.

Support for the evening came from Brighton’s finest Polite Bureaux. Fronted by Joe Smith, the regularised band line-up of Maya Lili (usually on keys but backing vocals tonight as the synth has temporarily entered into its own game of hide and seek), Viv Maher (bass) and Connor Griffiths (drums) is working a treat; as a four-piece they complement each other without taking anything away from the delivery of the visceral lyrics and reaction to the realities of social stratification across the UK right now. Closing with what I maintain is one of the best tracks of 2024 from anyone, Broke Biscuits, it’s great to see things starting to take off for Polite Bureaux. Look out for pending new single release Mift and more Brighton dates soon.

Polite Bureaux

Lip Critic

Words and photos © Siobhan – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram

Published 6th September 2024