Having never previously seen The Sleaford Mods perform but having enjoyed the recent album and latest single 'TCR' ( if just for the sheer bravado and vitriol sarcasm and wit of their music) I was more than curious to see how this would translate to the Dome stage. A venue you would consider the last place to encapsulate their values and natural fan base it was a night when Brighton seemed more intent on celebrating Halloween in a spiritual and hedonistic fashion than through social and political injustices.

In the bar the Dome felt like it was only half full which did not add to the overall atmosphere. It seemed too relaxed, too jovial, with most of the audience creating a common uninspired herd on the floor space in front of the stage and which both supporting artists The Cravatas and Cappo tried in vain to overcome although playing and performing well.

It then remained for the two figures of Andrew Fearn and Jason Williamson (the Sleaford Mods) to come on and fill the substantial auditorium of the Dome. Their decision to perform against a full curtain backdrop gave one the slightly disorientated impression of two stand-up comics with the main act still to come on. The initial vocals were immediately lost over the sound of the beat box/laptop dominating the poetry of the early songs and prompting Williamson on to seek further endorsement from the audience that they were able to hear while he was frying under a barrage of stage lighting more apt for a six-piece band. I think the initial impact certainly took me by surprise and was not what I was expecting.

With so little visually going on (more so in this stripped back show), greater focus is thrown upon Williamson and his performance and he does his best, no doubt giving it 110% in the process but somehow the communication seems lacking. No matter how hard he tries, the barr sheep noises and ape impressions may have worked once or twice with the madness but the mannerisms become more and more repetitive. Even his attempts to cajole and playfully insult the audience to create some well intentioned banter does little to get the response he is seeking and above the polite response I somehow have the feeling Brighton is more into the beats tonight than the messenger. This makes for a strange dichotomy but Williamson never gives up the fight and finally succeeds to some degree with the hard core fans in the end but I feel the majority have yet to make up their minds whether between the 'fucks', 'wankers' and 'shits' it is really working for them.

For me, I am wishing I had seen the Sleaford Mods when they were playing the smaller venues and fame had not encouraged managers and agents to seek bigger audiences, which ultimately dissipates the message while the rawness and stripped back performance opens up a great chasm in the value of entertainment, back when their music would have happily engulfed you and the meanings of their songs were in your face; lyrics spat at you with ferocity and anger that energised you all over and you knew why you were there.

It may also be unkind to say it when the Sleaford Mods seem so genuine in all they say and do but tonight's performance was a little underwhelming in every way which I hope they do not learn to regret.
Frank

See our interview with Sleaford Mods here: http://brightonsfinest.com/html/index.php/spotlight/1880-sleaford-mods-interview-2016

Website: sleafordmods.com
Facebook: facebook.com/SleafordModsOfficial