What I love about going to gigs (particularly in Brighton) is the diversity of music almost around every corner and on every night of the week. One night you can be at The Corn Exchange seeing Goat with over 800 people, the next night you are in the intimacy of The Prince Albert, just over a stone’s throw away, watching the equally impressive and emerging talent of She Drew The Gun on what was to be a very entertaining and enjoyable night by Love Thy Neighbour promotions.

First act on was Eliza Jaye, who for some unknown reason I have always missed seeing even though she has headlined in her own right both in Brighton and London. Although I only caught the last three songs of her set I was impressed and immediately aware of her slightly unassuming stage persona but also her delicate and beautifully performed songs which have made me want to hear more of her music. Not having seen Eliza before, I thought for a brief moment I was going to be put off by the constantly short changes of instruments from Les Paul guitar to violin to the setting of delayed tape loops to build the backing to her songs but all this was part of the process that somehow draws you in, allowing you to find your way into the song, waiting for her beguiling vocals to begin. Eliza Jaye writes and performs beautiful and engaging songs which simply charm you and disarm you and I look forward to catching a full show in the near future. However this may not be for a while having announced at the end of her set she was off to Wales to do some recording and then back to Australia no doubt to soak up the wonderful summer sunshine and hopefully write some more songs.

The next act Mamatung are currently on a UK tour with She Drew The Gun and also hail from Liverpool, which they use to great effect as part of their ‘liver birds’ on stage offensive which is both charming and amusing. As to the precise genre of their music I am still not sure even after consulting their website, which states ‘spirited melodies, chants and serendipitous harmonies’ yet Cheshimo, Vesta and Zaina, who are Mamatung. They deliver what can best be described as an unusual sort of psychedelic freaky folk played across a variety of percussive and electric instruments and while their set was relatively short, it was most entertaining if a little tongue-in-cheek with regard to what it was all meant to be and how seriously we should take it. Nevertheless their carefree, spiritual-esque attitude and simple approach to their music was to contrast significantly with the later performance of She Drew The Gun.

For their first headline performance in Brighton, The Prince Albert was well attended and She Drew The Gun fronted by Louisa Roach, soon found an attentive and appreciative audience. Much has been made about the band being very politically-orientated and the songs covering all sorts of social injustices but what impressed me most throughout their set was the sheer ability and talent of Roach as a front person, performer and songstress, delivering a range of excellent songs where the melody and lyrics are able to enhance the message even more. At the same time her vocals are not over forceful or raging but enchant and caress you so you can enjoy the song as much as what it is about. I’m not sure life is getting harder or easier as its always seemed a struggle to me no matter what level of society you are but there are ways of saying things and Roach is very good at delivering in a way which seems to add even more meaning to her message. The whole performance was well backed up by some very poignant and stunning backdrop imagery as well as excellent performances by all the band members. I enjoyed all the songs with ‘Poem’ possibly receiving the biggest ovation of the night but I also really enjoyed ‘Where I End and You Begin’, ‘Or So I Thought’ and ‘Hallow’s Eve’. The band finish the evening on ‘Revolution of Mind’ and the rousing ‘Pit Pony’ and I have no doubt that as with other more hallowed names before, She Drew the Gun has found an audience and following in Brighton which is only going to get bigger and stronger with time and I fully expect them to be headlining the Concorde 2 or The Old Market on their return hopefully in the near future.
Frank

Read our interview with She Drew The Gun HERE.