As I walked into Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar the DJ was playing a set that can only be called Now That’s What I Call 2000’s. The Vines, Strokes and Vex Red all rubbed shoulders while American Psycho played on the wall behind him.

This felt more than part of the nostalgia for the past that is going on at the moment. It reminded me of when I was at uni and I might well have played these songs before heading out to a gig/night of debauchery. While I was reminiscing on the past we were given the signal that we could go downstairs with the live music. The opening band was Method Actress. This quartet formed from the ashes of Cannibal Hymns alumni Morning Smoke. In the wider scheme of things not much has changed, they still make broody post-punk, but there is a pop sheen to it, and sometimes a sly smile from the band to each other. They opened with their debut single ‘Point of View’.

While watching Method Actress I am stuck with pangs of happiness and sadness. The sadness comes from the fact that I’ll never see Morning Smoke again or hear those songs again live, but I’m excited by what I’m about to hear. As this is the third time I’ve seen them live, and they’ve only released the flawless ‘Point of View’, these are new songs. They followed this up with ‘In Vain’. It followed on from the sonic textures of ‘Point of View’ but everything felt more immediate and grander.

After a break, and one peanut butter milk stout, Egyptian Blue took to the stage. During the break a guy at the bar asked me what the headliner sounded like. I replied “They’re LOUD!” He looked notably impressed and went back to his mates laden with drinks. After Egyptian Blue started I realised how apt this description was as they are a LOUD band. After declaring “We’re the Arctic Monkeys” Egyptian Blue opened with ‘Weird Sex Party’ throwing down their statement of intent. Massive bass riffs, catchy guitars and sardonic lyrics exploded from the speakers.

‘High the Hyena’ followed suit after a peel of feedback. As this was released as a single last year, the crowd was into it, especially the “Fuck it” lyric, which was sung back. The beauty of ‘High the Hyena’ was that Egyptian Blue showed that they can take their collective foot off the gas and still deliver something visceral and playful. ‘Do You Think You’re Worth Your Soul?’ slowed things down a bit with its retro feeling riff. Imagine if The Brian Jonestown Massacre covered a Guns N’ Roses song, but changed the composition and slowed it down to a stoner jamtrack.

The highlight of the show was ‘Cut Me a Hole’. This is Egyptian Blue at their best. Everything pulses and surges along as the bass runs drag the rest of the song through a bush kick and where I was standing, the crowd screamed along with the lyric: “Give me a lobotomy, give me what…”. The set was finished off with ‘Self Loathing Tongue’, another example of less is more songwriting.

This gig was another example of how strong the live scene in Brighton is at the moment. Egyptian Blue played out of their skins and Method Actress proved why they are getting the plaudits they are. Method Actress will play bigger venues then Sticky’s, so these are fleeting moments. They are important to savour. Important because it’s gigs like this that make you grateful that you live in a vibrant city full of exciting acts, and important so you can say “I was there!”

Nick Roseblade