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

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbQ2cfeVCRo

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

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ngBzyfwQ_o

Why do we love them so much? Well, because it’s been so long since we’ve had a band that have allowed the music to do ALL the talking. This is a fact that remains utterly refreshing in a world where the shiny, faux-80′s glitz of La Roux, with her funny hairdo and all her neon, and Little Boots with her TV advertising campaigns and polished videos.

It’s not that we have anything against Little Boots or La Roux, as previous posts will testify, but there’s something that’s so charming about a (very young) gang of four from Scotland that don’t have the looks, nor the attitude, almost shy and inhibited on stage (the bassist neither looked up or moved from the same single spot all gig at The Great Escape Festival), yet when you click play on the stereo, you get a burst of energetic guitaring not seen since the Big Bang that was Nirvana, and that’s saying something!

Having released their album this week, it arrived in The Recommender inbox to much excitement and childish clapping. It’s the total sandblast that we had hoped for. Some songs build slowly to the point where they boil over and others start energetically to end on a sweet sentiment. Throughout the show the burn of  frontman Adam Thompson’s vocals tower to brilliant effect.

Pair it all up with a set of powerful drums and a hook-heavy bass, that’s rolled together in a twisted set of songs that have a bold, romantic narrative. It will have your emotions shaking around so much it makes your head spin. In fact, be warned, you may have to use your hands to hold it on your shoulders…

Here’s the video for the first single, Quiet Little Voices, with the second single, Roll Up Your Sleeves, also listed below it, (released officially on June 29th on Fat Cat Records). Before you ask, yes the filming has been edited to look this way…

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wn3tpaiJtgo

WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS – ROLL UP YOUR SLEEVES (ysi)

Finally, if you want more information on them we first did a full Recommender post about them here, including an mp3 taken from their live set at SXSW. Plus we reviewed them at The Great Escape here. Enjoy.
Mike

It’s just impossible to catch each and every band that’s on the lengthy schedule. Sadly, there are plenty of great acts that have times that clash and even working out the logistics of getting between all the venues is a task in itself. Still, yet another mind-numbingly exciting day was had by us all for day two…

1.) WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS

Experience- And so we begin again at The Honey Club for today and immediately the phrase “start as you mean to go on” comes to mind, but frankly it would be nigh on impossible for us to maintain the standards we witnessed with this band’s performance! This Scottish 4-piece blew away any cobwebs gathered by the previous nights partying. My expectations were high having heard the handful of tracks available from them, but they surpassed them with ease. The raw energy that chimes out from their outstanding power-Indie is exceptional. Particularly impressive was the voice of frontman, Adam Thompson , especially on Ships With Holes Will Sink. Stunning.

BEST TRACK – SHIPS WITH HOLES WILL SINK (ysi)

2.) TEMPER TRAP

Experience- Possibly having travelled the farthest of all the acts on show this weekend, the Melbourne 4-piece were deserving of our attention. Playing straight after the energetic We Were Promised Jetpacks at the same venue, they had a task on their hands, but they burst straight into it. Playing live they had a thunderous beat and a louder sound than expected, particularly from what we’ve previously heard on their Myspace. The trademark sailing, whirlwind of echoing guitars soared high and the confident vocals from frontman Dougy tied up an entertaining set. The clear highlight was their best track to date, Sweet Disposition, as it’s U2-like riffs had us all hypnotized.

BEST TRACK – SWEET DISPOSITION (ysi)

3.) CHEW LIPS

Experience - Having missed them at The Hope the previous evening our appetite for this Camden 3-piece was even greater. We braved the pouring rain and driving coastal winds to race over to the Audio venue to catch them. We were to witness two examples of true star quality in the bands tonight and frontwoman, Tiggs, was the first of these. Climbing the amps, posing for the cameras and bouncing around the stage, in way not seen since Lovefoxxx, she stole the show. Closing on the excellent tune, Solo, this was a performance that left everyone in the venue with a positive, broad smile on their faces. Contagiously brilliant.

BEST TRACK – SOLO (ysi)

4.) MASTER SHORTIE

Experience- Lesson number two in star quality was immediately upon us around the corner as this South London MC launched himself onstage. What a talent this fella proved to be. He’s got the image, the energy, bags of confidence and perhaps most importantly true crossover appeal. Indie kids will love the guitars and hooks and singalong chorus’ and fans of Hip Hop will enjoy the rapid-fire lyrical assault that he spits out so well. His energy and enthusiasm was infectious. There was plenty of engaging the audience between songs, showing us a young man truly at ease on stage. He even got warm up act, RIZ MC, back on stage to improvise some lyrics, providing us with a genuinely special touch. Electric.

BEST TRACK – DEAD END (ysi)

5.) METRONOMY

Experience- We’ve never caught the Brighton adoptees live before. There’s always been something that’s got in the way, so it was with relief and marked delight that we finally had a chance to see their famous show tonight. In the weekend’s biggest venue so far, at the Corn Exchange, we witnessed them blast out their inventive pop to a packed house. Following the recent departure of bassist Gabriel Stebbing to the band Your Twenties, we met with with the new bassist and female drummer. The dance moves they’re famous for were absent, so perhaps they need to rehearse some more before they work new ones out. Otherwise, the songs still stood tall and the crowd’s love affair was still very much in evidence.

BEST TRACK – A THING FOR ME (ysi)

We watched the second half of Metronomy, alongside Neil from the band Club Smith, who explained how he once supported them way back when they were brand new. It brought into perspective how bands can grow from the tiny beginnings we are witnessing all over town this weekend to the heavy hitters that we saw in Metronomy tonight. On our way home we bumped into Tim, lead singer for the Brighton band Maths Class, who informed us that they’re playing a secret gig at The Hope pub at 1pm Saturday and so we depart from tonight in the knowledge that the next day already guarantees more exciting entertainment.
Mike

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WINTER GLOVES
This Canadian 4-piece from the Paper Bag record label are one album in already, but they’ve been recently wafted in front of our ears once again as we check through the bands being showcased at the 2009 SXSW Festival. First entering our consciousness in 2008, they are a fantastic Lo-Fi Indie outfit not to be dismissed. You get catchy, sharp riffing guitars placed alongside high-pitched, layered vocals, that dance over the delightful melodies. Perhaps the band and fellow Montreal residents, Wolf Parade, are a simplistic comparison with their obvious love of the alternative sound, as there’s also a little bit of Foals in their pacey guitaring. They are yet another sublime example of the quality of the Indie bands that are coming out of Montreal currently. Take a peek for yourselves and see if you’re as taken as we are.

Find them here:       Myspace

Hear them here:      WINTER GLOVES – FACTORIES (ysi)

LOCAL NATIVES
Appearing at the SXSW at a variety of parties/showcases this busy 5-piece are all set for a big 2009. As the songs leak and the buzz builds up they bring us a reputation that’s swelling with every track we hear. Their debut, Gorilla Manor, due for release very soon, looks set to be packed out with their brilliant, melodic, folk-pop brilliance. There is a melancholy feel to their sound, but that ignores the fact that their songs are full of hope and bright, uplifting emotions. Lyrics of a forlorn love that’s been lost are sung with a style that’s reminiscent of the Fleet Foxes choral harmonies. This will surely be noted at the SXSW festival, (following Fleet Foxes triumphant performance in 2008) and if the multitude of ‘best of 2008′ music magazine lists that had Fleet Foxes at their summit take note, then commercial success promises to be there too. This group from Silverlake, California, are totally capturing the zeitgeist that comes with having a West Coast, harmonic, percussion-led sound. If that’s your thing then Local Natives will soon be taking over your ipod…

Find them here:       Myspace

Hear them here:      LOCAL NATIVES – AIRPLANES (ysi)

WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS
Whilst we really do love the Fleet Foxes and the above listed Local Natives and their quaint Californian sunny sounds, but we have to say that there’s something to be said for those bands that really plug themselves in and rock your goddamn socks right off. Bugger the bright and breezy LA coast, try Glasgow on for size and see how your sounds come out. That’s where the fantastically named We Were Promised Jetpacks come in. Also fresh from a SXSW set we hope and pray that the Americans see the sense and get behind these superb post-Punk Indie masters. Definitely our favourite band for a long time, with their high-reaching, climactic, punchy and melodic, racing tunes. Adam Thompson proudly sings with his Scottish accent prominent and it adds a brilliant edge in a way, well, that Fleet Foxes could never manage. They’re so good that we’ve taken the unusual step of listing not one, but two of their songs, so keen are we to encourage you to love them too.

Find them here:      Myspace

Hear them here:      WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS – SHIPS WITH HOLES WILL SINK (ysi)
WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS – QUIET LITTLE VOICES (Live @ SXSW) (ysi)

Expect plenty of ramblings about he SXSW Festival from The Recommender in the next few posts. We are unapologetic as we accept that it’s a major talking point in the calendar for any blog about new music and so feed on it like a starved animal.

Looking ahead beyond that though, we get Brighton’s own equivelant new music festival, The Great Escape, so expect many lovingly plucked findings to be dragged under your respected ears through April, May and beyond. See you back here real soon…
Mike

THE GREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL

That buzz is currently at ear-splitting levels with the recent announcement of the line ups and dates of our annual new music festival. Rightly touted as the UK’s version of the famous American SXSWFestival, with over 300 (mainly) new bands and acts. It runs over 3 days and at 34 venues across Brighton.

We’ve perused the lengthy listings and taken it upon ourselves to point out what we think are the worthwhile highlights and we’ve been kind enough to include a little mp3 so you can hear them for yourselves. Aren’t we the helpful ones…

An Experiment On A Bird In An Air Pump – Lights Out (ysi)

The Big Pink – Too Young To Love (ysi)

Fan Death – Veronica’s Veil (ysi)

Casiokids – Fot I Hose (ysi)

Dan Black – HYPNTZ (ysi)

The Joy Formidable – Whirring (ysi)

Kasabian – Club Foot (ysi)

Kissy Sell Out – Nightswimming(Kissy Remix)       (ysi)

Little Boots – Stuck On Repeat (ysi)

Metronomy – Heartbreaker (Kris Menace Remix)       (ysi)

Micachu & The Shapes – The Golden Phone (ysi)

The Maccabees – No Kind Words (ysi)

Passion Pit – Sleepyhead (ysi)

The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition (ysi)

V V Brown – Crying Blood (ysi)

We Were Promised Jetpacks – Ships With Holes Will Sink (ysi)

COST:                  £ 39.50  (allows access to all venues, subject to capacity)
DATES:                 14th, 15th and 16th May 2009
WEBSITE:             http://www.escapegreat.com

This annual city-wide party is just what the doctor ordered after a long winter. A festival that is growing in stature year on year, it is now rightly claimed as Europe’s leading festival for new music. Could it be any better for a Brighton-based new music blog like ours. We love our city of Brighton, really we do…

Mike