Vicky Speedboat is the side project of Modern Baseball drummer, Sean Huber and guitarist William Lindsay. The duo’s tenacity and pure punk tones are truly a force to reckon with, and with their latest UK tour, the band are sure to bring one hell of a show to this local Brighton venue.

Starting things off tonight are H_ngM_n (Hangman for those who appreciate the pun) who set the punk tones for the evening. Also just a duo, the two pack an immense amount of punch into an incredibly tight package, the vocals hold an immense level of raw emotion whilst simultaneously preaching an awful lot of meaning behind each lyric. Despite a few minor technical difficulties with the drums, the duo are able to maintain the momentum of the show through a descent amount of humour and interaction with the crowd. A great start to the evening and great demonstration of fresh Brighton talent.

Vicky Speedboat take the stage and, despite the small turnout tonight, they are welcomed warmly to the stage. Opening things off with some heavy guitar and drumming to get the ball rolling, William proceeds to thrash his hair around and it is clear the crowd are definitely on the band’s side and eager to hear more. William has a very distinctive tone to his voice which projects his strong Philadelphia accent adding the traditional americanisms that this style of punk thrives in. Sean’s drumming patterns meanwhile are incredibly intricate and bring the entire set to life, not one track falls short and his level of coordination is phenomenal. An incredibly strong demonstration of talent from this band.

As the set progresses, the band continue to find their flow. The room holds an incredibly warming vibe throughout and you can feel the sense of community between the guys and audience. Due to the intimate nature of the show, there is a multitude of conversation and joking between the band which generates breaks from what would otherwise feel like a somewhat tense room. ‘Philadelphia Contact High’ is played and the track sounds great and contains a great amount of guitar solo work whilst demonstrating Sean’s vocal ability, which seamlessly bounces off William’s tones. Vicky Speedboat have definitely found their sound, however there are certain times in each track where I can’t help but feel the introduction of a bass would add just that little bit more depth. Either way, they still sounded great.

Being a band who are still finding their feet, they showcase not only the entirety of their 2015 EP, Two Years No Basement, but are also more than happy to share new material they are working on. The new material surprisingly still holds a distinct level of familiarity and only seems to further emphasise the sound the band have already cemented as their own. The set’s closing numbers feature ‘Weathering Bell’ and ‘Passing Through Wales’ acting as a monumental ending. ‘Weathering Bell’s’ brilliant energy offers a wholesome ending to the show and does make for the highlight of the entire set as the titanic chorus fills the room. Whilst ‘Passing Through Wales’ is a track about the band’s origins acts as a loving gesture to end the show on a high note.

Overall, Vicky Speedboat are one of the greatest modern punk rock bands that you haven't heard of yet. Their sound is concise and matches that of even Modern Baseball and other bigger names from their scene. They have a great sound that I think many will enjoy. I genuinely cant recommend listening to their material enough and will be long anticipating this duo’s inevitable return to our city.
Ben Walker

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Twitter: twitter.com/VickySpeedboat