ISSUE 2
15 - 21 MAY 2018
MUSIC NEWS
GIG LISTINGS
PHORIA
ALBUM RELEASES
LIVE REVIEWS
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW AND THEIR FIRST SHOW IN 2018
TOM GRENNAN
EROL ALKAN PIP BLOM
PALE WAVE S
TELEMAN
STEREO HONEY
EASY LIFE
BAD GYAL
CONNER YOUNGBLOOD AMA LOU
NAO
BØRNS
THE ORIELLES SLOWTHAI TOM TRIPP BAKAR
LO MOON
GAFFA TAPE SANDY SPORTS TEAM NA AZ
ALMA
S O N S O F K E M E T
GUS DAPPERTON
BODEGA
VISTAS
N OW, N OW
LE WIS C APALDI
SKR APZ
K PHAX
KOJEY R ADICAL
GOAT GIRL THE MAGIC GANG NILÜFER YANYA IZZIE GIBBS MS BANKS SAINT R AYMOND
BLOXX
THE REGRET TES NOVELIST FRE YA RIDINGS STEEL BANGLEZ
INSECURE MEN
IDLES
MORE
BILLY LO CKET T DREAM STATE
DRAHLA
NEW ARTISTS
TICKETS
FREDO
BEARCUBS
ROSS FROM FRIENDS (LIVE)
BAD SOUNDS
MAHALIA
SNAIL MAIL
GAIKA
CONNIE CONSTANCE
450
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SUPERORGANISM
K YARY PAMY U PAMY U
LOUIS BAKER
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TOM WALKER
GR ACE CARTER
LOT TO BOYZZ
JAPANE SE BRE AKFA ST
ROLLING BL ACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER
HOCKEY DAD
TRILL ARY BANKS
WHYTE HORSES
THE KITE STRING TANGLE
G FLIP
BRUNO MA JOR
GIRLHOOD
NA AZ
RINA SAWAYAMA
MOSTACK
MIST
SOCCER MOMMY
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ISSUE 2
CONTENTS 9
PHORIA Ahead of their performance at The Alternative Escape, we talk to Phoria about what they’ve been up to in 2018
NEWS
Local releases and more news from the city’s music scene
ALBUMS Check out the latest album releases this week
4 6 10 10
OUT OF TOWN Our favourite upcoming gigs outside of Brighton
11 12
LISTINGS Our recommended listings of this week’s gigs across the city
LIVE REVIEWS We’ve got reviews from gigs across Brighton this week including Bryde, Ocean Wisdom, DMA’s, Gengahr and We Are Scientists
THE MAGIC GANG We sat down with Jack Kaye to talk about their new album and TGE performance
BRINGING THE ARTISTS CLOSER TO YOU...
COVER SHOT: Thom Undrell EDITOR: Daniel White CONTRIBUTORS: Jeff Hemmings Adam Kidd Jonski Mason Iain Lauder Jamie MacMillan Ben Noble Liam McMillen Christian Middleton Kelly Westlake Paul Hill Ben Walker Tom Churchill CEO: Frank Sansom press@brightonsfinest.com advertising@brightonsfinest.com Copyright © 2018. All rights reserved.
brightonsfinest.com /brightonsfinestpresents @brightonsfinest brightonsfinestuk @brightonsfinest
RADIO
NEWS
Jeff Hemmings Mon/Wed
SCHEDULE: 9 - 11PM Tuesday: Interviews with Gus Dapperton and Phoria Wednesday: Interview with Skinny Pelembe and live session with Thyla
Black Honey release new single
Black Honey have taken an adventurous left turn with new single ‘Bad Friends’, a big and dirty production amalgamating pop, r’n’b and indie. It comes with the news that their debut album is finished, and is scheduled for release this year. Talking about the track, Izzy says, “‘Bad Friends’ is a still in time. It’s about ultimately craving something that makes you alive. Sonically we wanted to create our own Frankenstein’s monster of pop music that felt equally wrong as it is right.” Propulsive dream-pop group Thyla have released ‘Blame’, an aggressive, post-punk track that’s a result of their desire to kick up a storm on the live stage. “It’s super fast and it’s wicked to play,” Duthie has said. Emerging three-piece Our Girl have announced details of their debut album, Stranger Today, produced by The Coral’s Bill Ryder-Jones, due to be released 17th August via Brighton label Cannibal Hymns.
Kelly Westlake Tue/Thurs
Thursday: Interviews with artists and festival goers at The Great Escape Monday: Interview with Nilufer Yanya and live session with Ady Suleiman Brightonsfinest.com/radio
COMING SOON ON RADIO
Screaming Females are in town for an exciting performance at The Hope & Ruin - the perfect venue for their DIY, gritty sound. We are joined by the band for an exclusive session after the release of their album All At Once.
Electric Soft Parade will be performing at Portslade’s Circle Arts Centre in an effort to raise funds for Music Minds Matter. We’ll be speaking to Alex from ESP and organiser Gram about this very important charity.
DON’T MISS: PICK OF THE WEEK
The 19-year-old singer/ songwriter Lily Moore, daughter of legendary blues-rock guitarist Gary Moore, has released a new EP, Not That Special, ahead of her show at The Great Escape and a tour with James Bay in 2018. Brighton-based Aussies Animal House have released new track ‘No Mamma’. Their debut album is out in 2018 and the band will be headlining the Thursday night at an unofficial Alternative Escape event at Cafe Plenty.
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Lankum – St. George’s Church – Friday 18th May This Dublin four-piece combine distinctive vocal harmonies with arrangements of uilleann pipes, concertina, accordion, fiddle, guitar and, together, they have composed a stupendous album, Between the Earth and Sky. The record has seen them win plaudits and coverage way beyond the traditional folk press, with this show specially programmed for the Brighton Festival. For more information visit Brightonsfinest.com/listings
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GIG LISTINGS Brighton Dome
The Hope & Ruin
Kronos Quartet Sunday 20th May Tickets: £20 Presented by Brighton Festival
Of Empires Tuesday 15th May Tickets: £6 OTD Presented by Melting Vinyl
Patti Smith and Her Band Saturday 2nd June Tickets: Sold Out Presented by Crosstown Concerts
Man of Moon Wednesday 16th May Tickets: FREE Presented by Antidote Bookings
Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar
Riviera Monday 21st May Tickets: £5 Presented by Scruff of the Neck
Shopping Monday 21st May Tickets: £8.25 Presented by Dictionary Pudding
Levitation Room Thursday 24th May Tickets: £6.60 Presented by Acid Box
La Bestia De Gevaudan Tuesday 22nd May Tickets: £3.30 Presented by Halfmeltedbrain
Screaming Females Friday 25th May Tickets: £8.80 Presented by Love Thy Neighbour
Town Of Cats + Buffo’s Wake Wednesday 23rd May Tickets: £8 Presented by A Beats, Toots & Keys
Captain Suun Saturday 26th May Tickets: £3 OTD Presented by Monkeyland Promotions
Mirrored Lips Friday 25th May Tickets: £5.50 Presented by Yeah Go On Then The Rocket Dolls Saturday 26th May Tickets: £5 OTD Presented by INDYA Hærken Sunday 27th May Tickets: £5.50 Presented by Jackhammer Promotions Rudy Francisco Monday 28th May Tickets: £11.50 Presented by One Inch Badge The Milk Friday 1st June Tickets: £16.50 Presented by The MJR Group
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PREVIEWS
Frankie & The Witch Fingers Monday 28th May Tickets: £6.60 Presented by Acid Box Loma Thursday 30th May Tickets: £10 Presented by One Inch Badge Wussy Friday 1st June Tickets: £11 Presented by Love Thy Neighbour
The Great Escape - Brighton Thursday 17th - Saturday 19th May The Great Escape will take over an incredible 30 venues across Brighton to showcase over 400 of the most exciting and interesting musicians from all over the world. New for 2018, the festival will also be creating its very own 2,000-capacity venue called The Beach to act as a new hub for festival goers, no awards for guessing where it will be situated!
Thee Hypnotics Sunday 3rd June Tickets: £14 Presented by Lout Promotions
Komedia
Magic Wands Saturday 2nd June Tickets: £8.80 Presented by Acid Box
Remi Harris Trio Thursday 24th May Tickets: £6.60 Presented by Yardbird Arts
Carcer City Sunday 3rd June Tickets: £8 Presented by Centuries
Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd June Tickets: £10 Presented by Brighton Fringe
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The Magic Numbers The Old Market Wednesday 16th May 2018 A nice little treat in the form of Ealing quartet The Magic Numbers, who play a special show the day before TGE in aid of their new record, Outsiders, which is out 11th May, their first album since 2014’s Alias. After their recent European tour, Penelope Isles are sure to receive a hero’s welcome as the main support.
Brightonsfinest Alternative Escape Showcase Saturday 19th May 2018 Brightonsfinest are once again taking over the breathtakingly beautiful St Mary’s Church (2-11pm) during The Great Escape Festival to bring you a stunning line-up that boasts to be our best yet. It’s free entry and features ten fantastic acts, from SJ Brett to Phoria and further afield, all perfectly suited to this unique setting.
GIG LISTINGS Green Door Store Ken Vandermark + Paal Nilssen-Love Sunday 20th May Tickets: £13.75 Presented by Dictionary Pudding & Brighton Alternative Jazz Festival Cascades Monday 21st May Tickets: £5 Presented by Little Music Live The Mountain Firework Company Tuesday 22nd May Tickets: £11.25 Presented by Green Door Store Rosetta Friday 25th May Tickets: £13.20 Presented by Small Pond Rough Hands Saturday 26th May Tickets: £5 OTD Presented by Illegal Activity Creeping Death Fest #2 Sunday 27th May Tickets: FREE Presented by Green Door Store Gene Pool Monday 28th May Tickets: £4.40 Presented by Self Promoted Boudicca Tuesday 29th May Tickets: £5 OTD Presented by QM Records Fruit and Flowers Thursday 31st May Tickets: £5.50 Presented by Green Door Store
The Haunt Nines Monday 21st May Tickets: Sold Out Presented by Lout Promotions
Bau Wow Oddity Road Saturday 26th May Tickets: £5.50 Presented by Modern Age
PREVIEWS The Prince Albert The Once Tuesday 15th May Tickets: £7.70 Presented by Love Thy Neighbour Reverend Beat-Man Wednesday 16th May Tickets: £11 Presented by Stay Sick! Wreckless Eric Wednesday 23rd May Tickets: £11 Presented by The Prince Albert Darrell Bath Band Sunday 27th May Tickets: £7.70
LICE - The Hope & Ruin Wednesday 23rd May 2018 Satirical art-punk band LICE return to Brighton to launch their double EP It All Worked Out Great, Vol. 1&2, released by Balley Records. With LICE’s legendary live show, having opened for the likes of The Fall and Fat White Family, it’s bound to be a gnarly, loud and incredibly captivating performance. Support comes from Girls in Synthesis and DITZ.
GospelbeacH Monday 28th May Tickets: £8.80 Abi Wade Thursday 30th May Tickets: £5.50
Concorde 2 Brooke Candy Monday 21st May Tickets: £20 Presented by One Inch Badge Nick Heyward Thursday 24th May Tickets: £22.50 Presented by KT Promotions Big Daddy Kane Saturday 26th May Tickets: 18 Presented by Beatdown
Avi Buffalo Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar Thursday 24th May 2018 American musician, songwriter and producer Avi Buffalo is returning to Brighton for the first time since a Great Escape performance all the way back in 2010. After announcing a European tour, including Brighton, he’s promised to play tracks from both his self-titled debut album and 2014’s At Best Cuckold.
Deerhunter Sunday 27th May Tickets: £20 Presented by One Inch Badge Beth Ditto Thursday 31st May Tickets: Sold Out Presented by SJM Concerts
St George’s Church Nakhane Saturday 19th May Tickets: £10 Presented by Melting Vinyl
Ezra Furman - Brighton Dome Saturday 26th May 2018 Following the release of his sixth record, Transangelic Exodus, Ezra Furman is finally making his way back to Brighton to play the Dome as part of the Brighton Festival, after being personally picked out by guest director David Shrigley. His live show is sure to be a spectacle and it will act as a celebration of the whole festival, as it is the penultimate event.
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P H
O R
I A
“We’re big, we’re heavenly, and we’re ethereal.” So say Phoria, the Brighton-based five-piece who are about to play their first gig since August of last year, headlining the Brightonsfinest Alternative Escape showcase at the beautiful St Mary’s Church on Saturday 19th May, joining The Fiction Aisle, Her’s, Trudy and The Romance, SJ Brett, and Wild Front. Jeff Hemmings sat down with the band ahead of their first performance of 2018 to see what they’ve been up to... Venturing up The Drive in Hove, I enter the spacious, tall-ceilinged, and natural light-filled living room that the band are currently camped in. Instruments galore, electronic gizmos, and various musical paraphenalia are strewn in every corner, the band obviously very much at home in this rather lovely room, a far cry from the “dungeon” they used to inhabit. I venture that bands are often in small, black, low-ceilinged boxes with no windows and no air. “That’s exactly what we were in,” says Trewin Howard, band leader of Phoria. “We used to be in what was a public toilet, underground, in the Marina. It was hell. Literally hell. You lose a little bit of quality, but we’re happy to swap pristine audio for sanity.” Phoria are a bit of a mysterious lot, something they are not averse to playing up to. Yet Trewin, James Cheeseman, Seryn Burden, and Tim Douglas (plus Ed Sanderson, who is absent) are enjoying some down time, in-between what looks like hard working rehearsals and recording sessions, as they gear up for the gig and also a new release or two. Although they aren’t giving much
away about that. Is there a plan, I ask? “We’re working on a body of new music. There is a plan, although we aren’t really supposed to say what that is. The method is mysterious. We’re mysterious,” they laugh. A little potted history; formed about eight years ago in Brighton, Phoria released their debut EP Yourself Still in 2010, followed by Bloodworks, and
“We’re all chomping at the bit to do a live show. When the five of us get on stage it’s very important that we go hell for leather. ” Display. In 2016 they released their debut album, Volition, an acclaimed work that saw them gel the gigantic with the intimate, dripped with atmospherics and emotion, all carefully thought out and crafted. However, they haven’t gigged since the summer of last year, and have been quiet up till now. “The album took a huge amount of energy,” says Trewin. “It was a big deal and it ran us ragged. We’ve spent the time since then
re-establishing ourselves. But there’s already an ocean of music that we’re now whittling down.” You must be gagging to get up on stage again? “We’re all chomping at the bit to do a live show. When the five of us get on stage it’s very important that we go hell for leather with everything. Whereas the recorded tracks are a very painstaking process. We tend to focus on Europe and the rest of the world. We play in the UK but they do often do a terrible job of it. People in Europe want to give themselves to good music, and not just get drunk and have music as a side dish.” However, they really like St Mary’s. “We’ve played there before. It’s an amazing space. It’s a big space, but if the rig is good and it’s pushing enough air around... We’re big, heavenly, and ethereal, and it sits quite well in a church.” Up for a laugh, but also deadly serious about what they do, Phoria are the perfect band for St Mary’s Church. If not already so, expect to be converted. To read the full interview and see a live session of their new song visit Brightonsfinest.com/phoria
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9
LIVE REVIEWS
ALBUM REVIEWS Artic Monkeys ‑ Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino Out: 11th May 2018
In front of family, friends and a fanbase that sold out Concorde 2 in a heartbeat, Ocean Wisdom raced onto the stage with the same breathless energy and speed that he has become famous for. Aptly starting the Wizville tour in his old neighbourhood of Brighton, he showed that he is far more than a one-trick pony and put on a consummate evening of home truths, epic beats and, most of all, great fun. Finishing off where it all began for him with ‘Walkin’, the track that originally thrust him into the limelight, a superb show came to an end. It felt like a coronation tonight, one that confirmed Ocean Wisdom as a rapper of rare talent and one that is realising his potential.
As on Like An Island, Bryde’s show swings from hard-edged rock to emotional ballads with blues, post-punk and folk all mixed in between. The live performance feels at times spiky and jagged, perfectly in the tune with the mood of the album.
Following the release of their second album, Where Wildness Grows, last month, Gengahr visited Brighton and their live performance showcased an entirely different, more unique sound in a spectacular performance at The Haunt.
The set’s dynamics don’t drop once throughout their gig at Condorde 2. This is one of DMA’s specialties: their ability to create an upbeat vibe whilst speaking about some incredibly heartfelt or sobering themes and, in a live setting, it’s truly mesmerising.
It’s been 12 years since the release of With Love and Squalor but, on this evidence, it looks like We Are Scientists could be doing this for the next 20 years. If anything, their Concorde 2 gig showed that the trio’s popularity is not likely to wane any time soon.
Read the full reviews at Brightonsfinest.com/live
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The ego has landed! Arctic Monkeys have finally delivered their long-anticipated sixth studio album, which could be their most ambitious to date. A concept album, of pure retro futurism, set in a luxury hotel on the moon for the rich, the famous and Jesus himself. This collection of loungey piano ballads seems a major departure from the big riffs of AM, presenting a challenge to fans.
Beach House - 7 The seventh album from Out: 11h May 2018 beloved Baltimore indie duo Beach House, you don’t need music videos to see how the band pictured 7. It brings up images of lights calling out in the dark, like floating around in a void. It’s a very comforting listen and, whilst there is a gloominess in the music, it’s outweighed by the band’s warmth. Luke Haines ‑ I Sometimes Dream of Glue Out: 11th May 2018
Luke Haines’ new record is one of the more intriguing concept albums to come out this year, if not this decade. It certainly isn’t an album that you can just listen to sporadically. No, it’s a start to end experience which sends you to the most bizarre parts of Luke Haines’ mind and transports you to a tiny world where anything is possible.
The more you listen to Fierce Friend ‑ Lies That the record, the more you Comfort You notice the dark shadows Out: 10th May 2018 hiding within the light arrangements, and songs like ‘Morning Lullaby’ begin to make more sense within this wider context. On the surface this is just a luscious indie-pop album, but there’s a lot bubbling away beneath, and that makes for a compelling listen you’ll return to. Read the full reviews at Brightonsfinest.com/albums
NIGHTLIFE
OUT OF TOWN
La Fleur & Denis Horvat Thursday 17th May Hideout 11pm - 5am
Ross From Friends Friday 18th May Patterns 11am - 4am
Peace Wednesday 16th May 02 Forum, Kentish Town 7.00pm
Johnny Marr Wednesday 16th May Islington Assembly Hall 7.00pm
Erol Alkan Friday 18th May The Arch 11pm - 5am
Devilman Friday 18th May Hideout 11pm-6am
Ash Thursday 17th May Hippodrome, Kingston 9.00pm
Beans on Toast Friday 18th May The Clapham Grand 6.30pm
DJ Budai Friday 18th May Volks 11.30pm-7am
Giant Swim Saturday 19th May Patterns 11pm - 4am
Husky Loops Friday 18th May SET, London 7.00pm
Breathe Panel Friday 18th May The Lock Cavern, Camden, 7.30pm
Skream b2b Dennis Ferrer Saturday 19th May The Arch, 11pm - 5am
Dispatch Recordings Saturday 19th May Volks 10pm - 7am
Ratboys Saturday 19th May The Lexington, London 7.30pm
Our Girl Tuesday 22nd May Moth Club, London 7pm
Full event listings at Brightonsfinest.com/listings
BRIGHTONSFINEST.COM 11
Q&A
THE MAGIC GANG Formed and developed in Brighton, The Magic Gang’s recently released self-titled album has been winning some of those super rare 100%, 10/10 reviews, from people who can’t get enough of their 70s and 80s classic pop-rock songs. They’ll be playing this year’s Great Escape so we hooked up with guitarist, singer and songwriter Jack Kaye while they were in town for a recent in-store at Resident.
Great album. Strong on melodies and hooks! Thank you. We’re obsessed with songwriting, all four of us. We listen to Beatles records, and Beach Boys records and we just try and mimic that as best as we can. Then obviously you’ve got a bit of an alternative edge to it. I guess we’ve listened to a lot of 90s music as well. Songwriting is what we do it for, it’s our favourite part of the whole process. Do you all write? Yes, we all write. Either one or two of us will start off a song together, but the four of us will finish it together. So, tell me about the chemistry between you four... We’re all capable of being egotistical, and definitely quite over-sensitive. But, when it comes to the creative process we’ve left that at the door. I remember when we first started and I would bring a song to the table, the others might
12 BRIGHTONSFINEST.COM
be, ‘That verse is really good, but that chorus is terrible’. For a moment it’s, ‘Hang on!’ But then you let that go, and realise you’re all trying to serve the song. Everybody brings bits in and then they get tweaked. No one takes it to heart, and everyone allows their stuff to be tweaked by the rest of the band to get the best result. The band name, where did that come from? It came from Christian. His idea for the band in the first place was that it would be this group of about ten people who play in this almost psychedelic garage rock group where everybody would be playing percussive instruments and acoustic guitars. That was the idea, so we called it The Magic Gang with that in mind. And that whittled down and we ended up with just the four of us. To read the full Q&A visit Brightonsfinest.com