| Buzz Surrounds Brighton Rock
By Ian Chambers
The Irish music scene has never been more vibrant, with bands and
artists such as Damien Rice, Gemma Hayes, Hal and BellX1 rising up the charts.
But according to Ian Chambers, the Celts are not the only ones to boast
of such success. Here he explores the state of the live music scene in the
seaside city of Brighton.
Ask a music fan to name a band from Brighton and more often than not
they’ll come up with The Levellers. Being Brighton’s most well-known musical
export this is understandable, but it also goes to show that when it comes
to bands Brighton has never really had a great deal of musical success outside
of the local scene.
During the 90s, dance music and club-land culture was the major influence
in a lot of places and Brighton was no exception, with local DJ and producer
Fatboy Slim gaining a somewhat superstar status. The live music scene was
always around but it was hardly in a great state, with more and more people
seemingly wanting to spend their weekends getting off their faces and dancing
all night at clubs. Live music needed a new lease of life and some new and
exciting bands to lead the way. Little did people know that it wouldn’t
be long before the live music scene in Brighton was well and truly buzzing
again.
In 2000, Brighton was officially awarded City status, which seemed to
make people more aware of the place and what was going on in the new city
by the sea. Some big-name bands began adding Brighton to their touring schedule
with the likes of Shane MacGowan & The Popes and Joe Strummer both playing
gigs there. Up and coming US bands such as The Strokes and The White Stripes
also paid visits.
Around 2001 a real buzz began in the music press surrounding a new breed
of young Brighton bands making fresh, new and exciting sounds. One such
band being The Electric Soft Parade. Formed by brothers Tom and Alex White
upon leaving school and college, their sound is a psychedelic mix of indie
and rock amongst other influences. The band puts it better themselves: “We’re
not the kind of band where one word or one genre describes what we do...we
are always open to listening to new things and experimenting with new ideas.”
After numerous gigs in some of Brighton’s smaller venues (such as the
famous Freebutt and a monthly residency at the Pressure Point), they signed
a record deal and released a couple of singles that won them radio play
by the likes of Steve Lamacq on Radio 1. Music paper NME also named them
one of the British guitar bands to watch in the coming year.
On the back of the release of their brilliant Mercury Music Prize-nominated
debut album, they promptly sold out two nights in a row at the Concorde
2, Brighton’s premier alternative music venue, as well as playing the likes
of Glastonbury, Reading festival and a successful British tour.
Since then there’s been a number of other exciting guitar bands to emerge
and it seems there’s plenty more to come. As Verity Susman of local band
Electrelane puts it: “Right now, there is a bit of a buzz in the British
music press about Brighton, as there are several bands here who have recently
started releasing records and getting noticed. Of course, some people are
trying to call it a scene, but we are all pretty different musically. The
music scene here in Brighton is good — there are lots of bands and clubs,
and we get a lot of touring bands coming here.”
The most recent success story is undoubtedly the quirky indie-sounding
British Sea Power. Word soon spread of their now legendary monthly Club
Sea Power shows at the Freebutt which became famous for the use of foliage
and stuffed animals on the stage, as well as the crazed antics of front-man
Yan.
It wasn’t long before the band outgrew the confines of the venue and
the residency had to come to an end. After plenty of British-based shows
the band signed to Rough Trade records in London and have since released
two critically acclaimed albums, headlined one of the stages at the Reading
festival and are now well known up and down the country.
Despite the profiles of some of the local bands increasing, they all
still tend to play Brighton on a fairly regular basis and always get a great
reception when they do.
Band members have also been known to lend a hand and stand in for one
another if someone else is ill or can’t make it.
Mutual friendship and a love of music has also bought members of three
bands together to form a Brighton supergroup.
The Brakes comprise of Tom and Alex White of the Electric Soft Parade,
Eamon Hamilton of British Sea Power and Marc Beatty of The Tenderfoot. They
recently released their debut album, a total of 16 tracks in 29 minutes
that sounds fresh, exciting and a bit on the crazy side. The product of
a group of mates playing together has never sounded so good.
In March this year, the cream of the Brighton band scene came together
for a benefit gig in aid of the Asian Tsunami. British Sea Power were joined
on the bill by The Electric Soft Parade, Eighties Matchbox B-line Disaster,
The Mutts and Chris TT for a hugely successful sold-out evening at the Concorde
2 which highlighted the real diversity and talent of some of the local bands.
A week-long music festival at the beginning of October also featured
free gigs every night of the week, with the likes of Clearlake, Electric
Soft Parade and The Tenderfoot amongst many others taking part.
So the Brighton live music scene is truly alive and rocking once again.
If it’s diverse and interesting music you’re after then go and check it
out for yourself — you won’t be disappointed.
Brighton Bands…
The Electric Soft Parade
Formed by brothers Tom and Alex White, this four-piece band play psychedelic
indie rock, which is a cross between early era Verve, Teenage Fanclub and
the Boo Radleys.
Recommended Listening: Holes In The Wall (2002)
British Sea Power
“Fully waterproof and with many useful pockets, this band are all you’ll
need this winter.”
This is just one of the many odd phrases which has been used in the past
as people struggle to describe British Sea Power. Unique, eccentric and
complete with naval uniforms, twigs and a stuffed heron on stage… I’m sure
you get the idea by now. If not then go and listen to their own brand of
epic English guitar pop and find out.
Recommended Listening: The Decline Of British Sea Power (2003)
The Tenderfoot
Five-piece band comprising guitar, bass, drums, lap-steel guitar, keyboards
and melodica. Their songs can be simple ditties, a sole verse and chorus,
or sprawl restlessly, with verses and bridges escalating as songs develop,
leading to peaks that reach dizzying crescendos. Member Marc Beatty also
plays bass in other Brighton band The Brakes.
Recommended Listening: Save The Year (2004)
Actress Hands
This up and coming four-piece blend vocal melodies and harmonies with
crunching guitar riffs to form their catchy songs. Have been described in
the past as sounding “like Coldplay on prozac, trying to play like The Pixies”.
Singer/guitarist Matt Eaton was once a member of cult Brighton band Brighter
Lunch. The band is yet to release a record, but look out for a debut album
sometime soon.
Clearlake
Clearlake play atmospheric music with lyrics that are clever observational
tales about everyday English life (boring Sunday evenings and jumble sales
anyone?). Their sound may come across as charming and quaint at first listen
but soon you’ll find there’s something very odd besides. Can hear Pulp and
early era Blur as some of the more obvious influences.
Recommended Listening: Lido (2002)
Restlesslist
Five-piece band featuring Tom White and Matt Thwaites of The Electric
Soft Parade. They play sample-heavy instrumental music using synths, looped
guitars, keyboards and turntables as well as the usual drums, bass and guitars.
The band recently headlined their first ever gig at local venue The Freebutt.
Currently there are only two limited edition EPs available but there’s sure
to be some new material following in the not too distant future.
Recommended Listening: Eyes Are On Your Hands EP (2005)
Brakes
Formed by Eamon Hamilton of British Sea Power after he roped in his mates
from the Electric Soft Parade and The Tenderfoot to help record his songs,
which range from country-tinged numbers through to short and sharp punk-type
tunes. Add to this variety some clever and often witty lyrics and you have
yourself an eclectic and mighty interesting band.
Recommended Listening: Give Blood (2005)
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