On a rather miserable and rainy Monday evening at Brighton’s premier venue there is a queue forming outside, brollies up and talk of the billing.

There are three support acts tonight and the first up are Deadcuts, fronted by Mark Keds, previously of Senseless Things. Full moon songwriting aside, the music itself is melodic, direct and in short bursts that keep the crowd wanting. Maybe a little reminiscent at times of the late 90s, early 00s band The Music that was fronted by Robert Harvey. With the ability to mix up the tempo with songs such as ‘Summon the Witches’ and ‘Dope Girls’, there is scope for a broader, longer live show.

Deadcuts make way for the next support of the evening, Lucie Barât. Sibling to her elder brother Carl, who will be performing later in the evening. Lucie, a multi-talented artist, having acted and also fronted previous band the Au Revoirs, is no stranger to the stage. In fact, her performance this evening is strong with huge stage presence. Completely at one with her band mates, Lucie has moments of Gwen Stefani-esque swagger as she makes some quite anthemic songs hit home. Lyrically proficient and with a message, you can’t miss the antiestablishment rhetoric of the latest single ‘Be Uprising’. The crowd certainly connects in rapturous fashion. It has to be mentioned that the sound inside the Centre is cranked right up and carries very well without distortion. The bass is deep and levelled and does the music justice, favouring Lucie’s moments of controlled and crafted flowing hip-hop raps. With great songs demonstrated and communicated in such a manner, it’s certain Lucie Barât has good things ahead of her.

More revellers fill the venue at the interlude, in time to witness a real moment, as ‘Yonaka’ take to the stage. Yonaka are a four-piece that hail from Brighton and are fronted by Theresa Jarvis, who is quick to announce with pride, that they are playing their hometown. Dressed in a black and red pin stripe suit Theresa immediately makes her presence felt and, a little into the first number, two words spring to mind: “power house”. For a moment, I am speechless, this band is something special and are certainly a band to be experienced live. There were some spine-tingling moments in the set, always a good sign when the hair stands up on the back of your neck.

All band members are animated on stage and with total cohesion. Theresa has this very relaxed movement that fits in perfectly with the wall of sound around her. If drawing parallels then maybe Karen O springs to mind, though, Theresa is definitely her own creation as she prowls the stage in time with that behemoth Yonaka beat. The guitarist George is plugged into 11,000 volts of pure white energy as he displays his passion for what he is doing. As the set progresses Theresa’s vocals add to the sting in Yonaka’s tail. Catchy hooks that draw you in with moody lyrics to match are always going to be an awesome combo but it’s those thunderous lead vocals that drive the knockout punch home and, again, those two words ‘power house’ that sum up the four band members. The new single ‘Wouldn’t Wanna Be Ya’ is ferocious in its delivery with its bile-laden lyrics vented via the spleen and shows how far the band have come, signing to Hometown Records in 2015. Other stand out tracks include ‘Ignorance’ and ‘Gods & Lovers’.

The backdrop behind the band during the gig was maybe too suggestive of the femme rock category the band have been quoted as saying “they do not wish to fall into”, though, it’s difficult to describe a new act that’s so fresh and unique and that draws on so many genres to such massive effect. So on this occasion I will make one word the adjective we need to describe them… Yonaka!

The last break of the evening allows yet more people to cram into this heaving venue for what now must be a sell out. Just in time as four familiar faces walk on stage to rapturous applause. This is the final show of their Tiddelly Om Pom Pom tour that has seen them visit our favourite seaside towns. The boys get straight down to business and start cutting up the stage back and forth, swinging around their guitars as if swinging from lamp posts after a riotous night supping pints.

I won’t trawl through the set list. You all know the songs. You all get the romance and hedonism, the familiar crunches of guitar between songs, the confusion and banter. From the off you feel anything could happen. There is a slightly volatile undercurrent, in a positive way, that fuels the energy on stage. The forgetting of lyrics that was beautifully patched up by a rendition of ‘Dream A Little Dream’. The kicking over of mic stands and the small gestures between bandmates. It’s what makes The Libertines so real and gives them that vulnerability that the fans truly love. Hits such as ‘Time for Heros’, ‘Can’t Stand Me Now’, ‘Barbarians’, ‘Boys In The Band’, ‘Music When The Lights Go Out’ all hold memories for every person in the crowd. Though it’s reciprocal and I sense the band themselves are experiencing catharsis, having regrouped for this tour and with the latest album ‘Anthems for Doomed Youth’ having been released to critical acclaim it’s testament to the hard graft. Playing the night out with ‘Don’t Look Back into The Sun’ lifts the roof off the Brighton Centre and drops it in the ocean. It’s an ear-piercing moment of pure joy and a fitting end to the night’s proceedings. You really must tip your hat to those likely lads. It’s a long way from Delaney Mansions, bravo.

James McKenzie

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