Gig-going based on recommendations has it’s ups and downs. It led me to discover, unfortunately, the music of Hayseed Dixie and Zion Train but on top of the the upside there’s Brakes.
I bought a ticket due to this post on Brighton Gig Buddies.
Glorious news! Brakes are back! Well, only for a one-off gig to celebrate 10 years since the release of their first album Give Blood. But it’s a start.
Formed over drinks in the Prince Albert (so the story goes) by Eamon Hamilton (original keyboard player with British Sea Power), brothers Tom and Alex White (AKA The Electric Soft Parade) and Marc Beatty who also worked with British Sea Power in their early years. Sadly they went on an indefinite hiatus around 2010.
A happy packed Concorde2 witnessed an heroic attempt to fit 35 tracks into one and half hours.
Jamgaw@starsfrighten summed up the the chaos .
Rabble rousing punk bubble clashes? @brakesmusic Sub minute humourous satirical clatter jives? @brakesmusic pic.twitter.com/hARRia9lRb
— JamGaw (@starsfrighten) June 19, 2015
Bass beat heavy disco dance jam bursts? @brakesmusic Indie take away tunefest fun filled swing deluge?
Heart swelling country bluegrass sways? @brakesmusic White sear metal mash ups? @brakesmusic pic.twitter.com/CCwbKJZNVL
— JamGaw (@starsfrighten) June 19, 2015
— JamGaw (@starsfrighten) June 19, 2015
Subsequent research has shown the limits of my musical knowledge. Debut album Give Blood had been acclaimed by the Observer, Time-Out and Rough Trade. Colin Murray on Radio 1 chose follow up album, The Beatific Visions, as his album of the year
Fortunately the one-off gig has become a short tour so more people can discover if Brakes are the best band they’ve never heard off..