What have you got planned over the next couple of weeks? Not much? Then we strongly suggest you get yourselves down to either of the two gigs listed below. Both are due in Brighton through November from a pair of bands so masterful we’d be embarrassed for you if you missed them!
WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS
We cover two gigs today that show off one established act and a band who find themselves at a rather more humble beginning. It’s fair to say that this Scottish four piece pack no lesser punch however. We adore them, having previously covered them here and here. If you could bottle the energy and power that this young band play with then you would out-sell Coca Cola. With drums and guitars that sound as if they’re being played by Thor himself and their ability to pen a raucous indie track of hurricane proportions, they already seem a finished article. They released their outstanding, gutsy debut album, These Four Walls, earlier this year and it’s about as jammed with magical talent as a savant conference. As an absolute necessity in anyone’s collection it will surely feature on this blog’s ‘Best Of 2009′ list. They also have a double A side single due out on 30th November. What is really worthy of our attention is the quite unbelievable vocal ability of Adam Thompson. It’s worth the effort to get to this gig simply to catch him singing in his strong Scottish accent. In a world of X-factor, with its moisturised, scripted pop stars, seeing Adam giving what is truly an amazing showcase of authenticity, is about as refreshing and sincere as it gets. Stepping into the centre of this hurricane will surely wash Simon Cowell and his formulaic nonsense out of your hair forever. (MB)
ACT: WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS
VENUE: THE FREEBUTT, Phoenix Place, Brighton
COST: £ 5.00
DATE: Friday 13th November 2009
WEBSITE: Myspace
TRACK: WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS – QUIET LITTLE VOICES (Live) ysi
BRAKES
More high-octane guitaring will be found playing Brighton this month with Brakes visiting Komedia. Made up of members out of Electric Soft Parade and British Sea Power, they seem to enjoy re-living that kind of late 80s, Seattle, Sub Pop indie that’s got lots of slick rumbling bass (Heard About Your Band). However, they also attempt to bring it up to date, in the same way Snow Patrol had done in previous years, with the occasional pretty songsmithery (Worry About It Later), followed by the kind of maxed-out tune that vibrates right through you (Two Shocks, Red Rag). They come from Brighton, so this gig is something of a home coming performance, which generally means you will receive an additional 10% more energy, although with a number of albums out it’s unlikely their mum’s are still attending their local shows. This small tour is to promote the release of their new live album, Rock Is Dodelijk (out 2nd November). Although previous albums came out on Rough Trade, they’re now releasing through the outstanding Fat Cat Records, who are one of Brighton’s finest having also signed up (the above) We Were Promised Jetpacks, Twightlight Sad and Frightened Rabbit. They clearly have an appetite for signing the kind of powerful indie band that enjoy placing their audience in a wind tunnel of guitars. If this is also your idea of a good night out, then get down to Komedia, but perhaps make sure you ready yourself by holding onto something eh. (MB)
ACT: BRAKES
VENUE: KOMEDIA, Gardner Street, Brighton
COST: £ 9.00
DATE: Monday 9th November 2009
WEBSITE: Myspace
TRACK: BRAKES – DON’T TAKE ME TO SPACE (MAN) ysi
