Welcome home. Got a couple of sweet gigs to warm your cockles in this edition of THE GIG LIST. The summer may be over, (did it ever start?!), but the live circuit continues to buzz loudly around your pint.
The two venues involved are continuing to push out the coolest bands for us. It’s been tough times for venues in this city with the Barfly closing and the new Hippodrome struggling to get a start date for its inception. Not sure why this is as the other venues seem busy and regularly getting in the top acts. Survival of the fittest I guess. At least I’m doing my bit anyways…
IDA MARIA
We all know Ida by now. We all love her to bits. With Radio One play galore and many a slot on the festival circuit all summer long, she’s breezing into Brighton. Sexy, lively, cute, exciteable and Scandanavian, she ticks most boxes for me. With her hat tipped firmly towards super-catchy singalong pop tracks like ‘Better When You’re Naked’ her gig is bound to swing. Just pop your clothes in the cloakroom on your way in. That’s better…
ACT: IDA MARIA
VENUE: KOMEDIA, North Laines, Brighton
COST: £8
DATE: 18th November 2008 @ 8pm
WEBSITE: Myspace Last.fm
FRIENDLY FIRES
I saw these guys live at the NME tour earlier in the year. They totally kick it! When they’re lively they’ll have the room bouncing off the walls. When they slow it down its all wistful beauty. Either way I love it! Frontman Ed MacFarlane is all you want as a focal point on stage, but the real gem is the lead guitarist. The appropriately named Ed Gibson is truly outstanding. He’s very remeniscent of Johnny Greenwood, of Radiohead fame, and that’s not something to say lightly. Ed even played his guitar with a Dust-buster at one point. Original, interesting and tuneful, I cannot wait for them to return to us in what is a very personal and close-up venue.
ACT: FRIENDLY FIRES
VENUE: AUDIO, 10 Marine Parade, Brighton
COST: £ tbc
DATE: 6th October 2008
WEBSITES: Myspace Last.fm
I’ve already got another GIG LIST to post, but I’m just trying to stick to my two-listings-per-post rule. Who makes these bloody rules anyway! Whilst I grapple with myself in third-person, you just have to make sure you return real soon for more selected Brighton highlights. Woo hoo!
Mike