Live Reviews

Previews

Haiku Hands
Komedia, Brighton
Monday 22nd October
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BC Camplight
Green Door Store, Brighton
Wednesday 24th October
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Sam Evian
The Hope & Ruin, Brighton
Wednesday 24th October
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Album Reviews

Kurt Vile – Bottle It In

Jess Glynne – Always In Between

The KVB – Only Now Forever

Haley – Pleasureland

Art School Girlfriend – The Hope and Ruin, Brighton – 15th October 2018
Art School Girlfriend – The Hope and Ruin, Brighton – 15th October 2018 There’s a beautiful, yet muffled buzz surrounding Art School Girlfriend at the moment. Halfway between ‘the next best thing’ and intimate venues ‘best kept secret’, the Welsh singer-songwriter, now based in Margate, has proved quite the force to be reckoned with since signing to arguably the coolest indie label in the UK, Wolf Tone Records (the home of The Horrors and Glass Animals). Having just released one of the finest EP’s of the year so far in the form of Into the Blue Hour EP, Art School Girlfriend brought her brooding pop songs in a magnificent, and...
Anna Calvi – All Saints Church, Hove – 5th October 2018
Anna Calvi – All Saints Church, Hove – 5th October 2018 For someone who was lacking confidence in her voice until her early 20s, Anna Calvi displays no lack of confidence on the live stage in the here and now. Nor does she lack any confidence it seems with her inventive guitar playing, or her stage persona in general, as she more than amply demonstrated here with this stunning show.
Baloji – The Haunt, Brighton – 15th October 2018
Baloji – The Haunt, Brighton – 15th October 2018 It’s not every day you get the chance to see a Belgian rapper of Congolese origin perform in Brighton, but that’s exactly what the audience got during Baloji’s gig at The Haunt this week. Baloji began his musical career as a member (under the name Balo) of hip-hop group Starflam, who achieved great success with their album Survivant going platinum. Since going solo in 2004, he’s released four albums, his latest being 137 Avenue Kaniama. This show was the first night of his UK tour, which additionally sees him play London, Bristol, Leeds and Gateshead.
Fatherson – Patterns, Brighton – 11th October 2018
Fatherson – Patterns, Brighton – 11th October 2018 Fresh off the back of the release of their third studio album, Sum Of All Your Parts, Scottish rockers Fatherson took to the stage at Patterns this week to perform an intimate show in support of their new record. The band have previously toured with the likes of Biffy Clyro, Frightened Rabbit and Enter Shikari, stopping off in Brighton for the ninth date of their 27-date tour. This show featured support from Blue Americans and Brighton locals Vesture.
Anteros – Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, Brighton – 10th October 2018
Anteros – Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, Brighton – 10th October 2018 Since forming in 2014, dream pop band Anteros have made quite the impression, supporting the likes of Two Door Cinema Club and White Lies, along with performing at huge festivals such as Glastonbury. To date they’ve released three EPs and have just announced their debut album, When We Land.
Teleman – Concorde 2, Brighton – 9th October 2018
Teleman – Concorde 2, Brighton – 9th October 2018 The second bite of the apple is proving even juicier than the first. Following the sad demise of highly-rated indie-popsters Pete and the Pirates, three fifths of the band eventually reformed as Teleman. Since then, three albums have brought something that their previous incarnation mystifyingly never managed - commercial success to match the critical acclaim. This year’s Family Of Aliens sneaked (just) into the Top 40 charts, and continued that rise in fortunes.
Avalanche Party – Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, Brighton – 8th October 2018
Avalanche Party – Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, Brighton – 8th October 2018 In many ways, it felt right that Avalanche Party should play one of the first gigs at Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar since it was announced it would be shutting down at the end of the year. Perfectly matched in almost every way, Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar has been the breeding ground for lo-fi garage rock and punk sounds, and that’s exactly what Avalanche Party brought, alongside co-headliners Canshaker Pi and Brighton-based Comforts. Inside the dingy basement of the iconic venue, it was a frenetic and intense showcase of thunderous rock and roll from a bygone era.
Glasvegas – The Old Market, Hove – 13th October 2018
Glasvegas – The Old Market, Hove – 13th October 2018 Album anniversary shows, hey? Always there to bring one or two emotions along, either of fond reminders of a glorious past, or as a shocking realisation of “Has it really been thatlong?” Tonight at The Old Market, Glasvegas managed both. Ten years have passed since their eponymous Mercury-nominated debut record reached number two in the UK Album Charts, their fuzzy rock sounds and aesthetics striking a chord with indie fans who were looking for something a little darker.
The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Concorde 2, Brighton – 11th October 2018
The Brian Jonestown Massacre – Concorde 2, Brighton – 11th October 2018 The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s aesthetic and Brighton go hand-in-hand quite beautifully. There’s something about the San Francisco musical project led by Anton Newcombe’s brand of psychedelia that strikes a chord with Brighton. As such, every time they roll into town they cause an immense buzz and, this time, they even sold out Concorde twice over. As such, the band’s first show at Concorde 2 was a riotous affair, boasting an incredible performance from the band that was both lengthy and incredibly technical. Make no mistake, The Brian Jonestown Massacre play live as if nobody's watching them....
Whenyoung – Komedia Studio Bar, Brighton – 10th October 2018
Whenyoung – Komedia Studio Bar, Brighton – 10th October 2018 In 2018, Limerick trio Whenyoung have been quite the fans of Brighton. Having played here with Public Access TV back in February, as well as a terrific, packed-out show for The Great Escape at The Haunt, there’s been a lot of love for the band on the South Coast. “It’s good to be back in Brighton, we always love coming here” stated lead singer Aoife Power, “we didn’t get a chance to go for a swim this time though,” she continued. With an unfortunate clash with similar indie-pop buzz band Anteros playing at Sticky Mike’s, the room was only half full but, that aside, it’s hard to...
Black Honey – Concorde 2, Brighton – 14th October 2018
Black Honey – Concorde 2, Brighton – 14th October 2018 “We never thought we’d get to play venues like this as an unsigned band” stated Izzy Phillips on Black Honey’s momentous, celebratory homecoming show at Concorde 2. It’s funny, really, because the moment we first discovered the band - which is well over four years ago now - we knew they were destined for great things. Their Concorde 2 show, too, was arguably the best they’ve ever been. Dramatic and cinematic, with a set-list covering early singles as well as fresh album cuts, it was, without a doubt, the most euphoric show of the year. If you were in any doubt that Black Honey were the real deal, then...
Mildlife – Rialto Theatre, Brighton – 21st September 2018
Mildlife – Rialto Theatre, Brighton – 21st September 2018 Erupting onto the scene earlier this year, Mildlife’s introduction to the world of music heads in-the-know, appeared to happen overnight. Championed by the likes of Gilles Peterson on Radio 6 Music and Worldwide FM, it wasn’t long until presenters at Brighton’s most loved underground radio station, 1BTN, had caught wind, and were ferociously playing out the tightly locked-in-grooves and ethereal tones of Melbourne’s newest exports.
12 Stone Toddler – The Haunt, Brighton – 10th October 2018
12 Stone Toddler – The Haunt, Brighton – 10th October 2018 12 Stone Toddler continued on their steadily upward trajectory with a sold-out show at The Haunt, Brighton, to launch third album, IDIOLALIA,released on local indie label Freshly Squeezed.They set the scene with a wonderful opening performance from Tankus The Henge singer, Jaz Deloreon. Jaz performed solo, accompanying himself on piano whilst standing askance, cutting a bit of a Buster Keaton-like figure in a three-piece check suit, as he led the crowd into a series of sing-a-longs. His set climaxed with a rendition of ‘Henge...
Sisteray – The Hope & Ruin, Brighton – 4th October 2018
Sisteray – The Hope & Ruin, Brighton – 4th October 2018 When music or cultural historians look back at 2018, what will they see? Chances are, it is the sounds of the disaffected and enraged that will resonate for the longest. Another band who sit firmly in that camp are Sisteray, who kicked off their UK headline tour with a night at The Hope & Ruin. Coming the day after the devastating Sticky Mike’s news, there could be no better time to catch the East London band to remind us that live music is the bedrock of this country’s rich music scene.
Pale Waves – O2 Guildhall, Southampton – 2nd October 2018
Pale Waves – O2 Guildhall, Southampton – 2nd October 2018 Brighton may have to wait until they support The 1975 in the new year to see them again, but indie favourites of the moment, Pale Waves, dropped in just up the South Coast and showed why they have been provoking so much love and attention recently. Bringing two other bands with plenty of buzz under their belts along for the ride, it was an evening that promised much. It certainly didn’t disappoint.
Darwin Deez – Komedia, Brighton – 2nd October 2018
Darwin Deez – Komedia, Brighton – 2nd October 2018 The three year gap between 2015’s Double Downand this year’s 10 Songs That Happened When You Left Me With My Stupid Heart(which we called “a triumphant return”) has caused a decline of sorts for Darwin Deez. Having played at Concorde 2 on the Double Downtour, they hit Komedia on their latest tour. Nevertheless, judging from the flocks of teenagers waiting outside before the doors even opened, and an exuberance for the music - both old and new - that you don’t see everywhere, Darwin Deez are still a force of nature in the indie world. With a set spanning...
Emmy The Great – Duke of York’s Picturehouse, Brighton – 3rd October 2018
Emmy The Great – Duke of York’s Picturehouse, Brighton – 3rd October 2018 The theatrical glamour of the Duke of York’s Picturehouse is the perfect setting this evening. Eventually the curtains draw back on the screen as a short video begins, the photography and narrative telling a story about a girl who goes to China and doesn’t want to get married. The locals think she is weird and the Buddha turns her into a tree, where a man she fell in love with then rests under her branches. There was a bit more to it than that but, in a nutshell, the video sets the scene nicely for the show’s theme – that Emmy does things very much her own way, although she is guided a little...
Lacuna Bloome – The Hope & Ruin, Brighton – 6th October 2018
Lacuna Bloome – The Hope & Ruin, Brighton – 6th October 2018 We’ve been so impressed with Brighton’s Lacuna Bloome here at Brightonsfinest. With a spectacular 2018 that has seen them play a brilliant set at Isle of Wight Festival, play fantastic support slots with the likes of Black Honey at The Hope & Ruin for This Feeling TV as well as with Saltwater Sun at Sticky Mike’s, it’s been a scintillating year for the indie...
Lily Moore – Komedia Studio Bar, Brighton – 1st October 2018
Lily Moore – Komedia Studio Bar, Brighton – 1st October 2018 "That's where I found my feet," Lily Moore stated of our very own Brighton in our exclusive interview with the up-and-coming starlet. "I think you need to do it. It's a really safe place to experiment, and try songs out. No one is going to watch you for too long. Brighton is great like that, you can experiment, and you can try and find your sound,” she continued. Funnily enough, all eyes in Komedia’s Studio Bar were glued on the Brightonian as she mesmerised her devoted audience with her incredible voice and laid-back on-stage antics. Lily Moore is already a bonafide...
All Saints – Komedia, Brighton – 26th September 2018
All Saints – Komedia, Brighton – 26th September 2018 It’s a rare joy to see an act with such a following perform in such an intimate venue, but that’s exactly the opportunity Nordoff Robbins have been giving fans, bringing huge performers to smaller venues across the UK as part of Get Loud Sessions. For one night only these intimate shows have all raised money for Nordoff Robbins, collecting funding to help those with disabilities enjoy music and changing their lives in the process.