THESE NEW PURITANS Audio Fri 1st
Despite the often absurdist, wilfully challenging nature of their debut, Beat Pyramid, few could accuse Southend-On-Sea’s These New Puritans of lacking ambition, as the accompanying press hype to its successor Hidden attests: “Six-foot Japanese Taiko drums, a 13-piece brass and woodwind ensemble, sub-heavy beats, prepared piano, a children’s choir, Foley recording techniques, including a melon with cream crackers attached struck by a hammer, used to simulate the sound of a human head being smashed”. Difficult second album, anyone? (BG)
JESCA HOOP Latest MusicBar Mon 4th
In the frigid, freezing first days of 2010, as we cower from the snow with only a gym brochure for sustenance, who’d swap California for this virtual English Pole? Jesca Hoop, that’s who. From a brief stint as nanny to Tom Waits’ children to a brand new life in Manchester, hers is a remarkable story, topped off by the strangely English folk of acclaimed new album Hunting My Dress. LA can stick its sun where the sun does shine! (BG)
IGLU & HARTLY Prince Albert, Fri 5th
The marvelous US wonders Iglu & Hartly return to the UK this year for their latest tour. The five Californian talents, who only formed in 2008, have already gained quite a reputation for their live shows, playing both small venues and large festivals with equal intensity, passion and excitement. With hit tracks like Violent and Young and In This City, the group are bound to give the audience an exhilarating night to remember! (CC)
CHESNEY HAWKES Freebutt Sat 6th
He was, he insisted years ago via the medium of song, “the one and only”. Thank god for that, agreed the world. Chesney was in Buddy’s Song with Roger Daltrey (shit) and has released more records than you’d realise (all shit), yet somehow he appears to have emerged from 80s hell to find himself held dearly in the nation’s hearts. A good bloke. Only too happy to take the piss out of himself. Those records weren’t really that bad… We wouldn’t go quite that far, but the prospect of an acoustic Chesney at the Freebutt is possibly too surreal to pass up. (NC)
ANTI-NOWHERE LEAGUE Engine Room Sat 6th
Special mention for the League this month, celebrating as they are 30 years barking unpleasant songs at increasingly creaky old punk audiences. They first made their name with a poorly conceived and executed cover of Ralph McTell’s Streets Of London, but its b-side is why we ever give them the time of day. So What, with its Brighton namecheck of course, will be the three-minute highlight of this and every show they play. Who can forget the timeless magic of “well I’ve sucked sweets/and I’ve sucked rock/and I’ve even sucked an old man’s cock?” (NC)
ADAM GREEN Concorde 2 Weds 6th
New York City’s Adam Green is a lover first, an anti-folk icon second. Take 2003’s Friends Of Mine album, in which he mused over how one might successfully woo a female amputee. “There’s no wrong way to fuck a girl with no legs. Just tell her you love her as she’s crawlin’ away”, he advised, romantically, before ruminating further: “There’s something I miss in her cum-stained lips”. Clearly, this mystery girl is one very lucky lady. (BG)
ESBEN & THE WITCH Prince Albert Sun 7th
Brighton’s best-kept secret gothic macabre trio look set to break cover in 2010, crossing over into the bright lights of general acceptance with this their first UK tour. Last year’s inspired haunting soundscapes EP 33 along with support slots for such luminaries as Deerhunter and The Fiery Furnaces has certainly knocked them into a tight live unit. Expect to hear Siouxsie Sioux in the presence of A S Byatt at a Victorian séance, whileThe Jesus and Mary Chain skulk in the shadows. (DV)
JLS Brighton Centre Tues 9th
For reasons we don’t need to go into here, we’ve actually seen JLS rock this venue before. Warming up Lemar’s audience (look, don’t ask, OK?) their arena production consisted of a black backdrop in front of which they thrusted their hips, gurned for the girlies and the little skinny one did a few tricksy back flips. We presume the songs were all ones they’d done on telly – the ones we recognised they properly stunk up. Back flip boy will probably manage a limp solo album before he gets dropped, but the rest of the group will be flipping burgers before the year’s out. (NC)
TUNE-YARDS Freebutt Tues 9th
For all its childish, pretentious intent, there’s something undeniably fitting about the upside-down grammar which accompanied BiRd BrAiNs, the debut release from Montreal’s similarly-challenged tUnE-yArDs. For so singular is the DIY vision of Merrill Garbus that she truly merits such irrational freedom, as all manner of loops and found sounds conjure the skewed, international sound of one of new music’s greatest sonic mavericks. SOURCE remains unsure what to expect tonight but it could well be AmAzInG. (BG)
FIGHTSTAR Concorde 2 Tues 9th
When Busted broke up to make way for McFly in the pantheon of boys in long shorts pogo-ing around with their guitars mysteriously not plugged in, few thought that the mono-browed posh boy Charlie Simpson would ever be head of again. Having been trapped by pretty-boy pop he wanted to do something more ‘real’ and announced the formation of Fightstar, which would be a hardcore metal band. Good luck with that, we thought. But Fightstar surprised us by being not at all bad, carving out a decent career for themselves and actually selling some records. Loud and bouncy. (NC)
THOMAS WHITE Prince Albert Fri 12th
Thomas White is a busy man. Not content with playing guitar in Brakes and Electric Soft Parade, bass in Clowns and drums with Restlesslist, he’s now chosen to once again venture out on his own as a solo artist. Playing a rare full-band, hometown show complete with on-stage visuals, expect to hear tracks picked from his forthcoming album The Maximalist released on Cooking Vinyl in March, showcasing his wonderfully unique and idiosyncratic take on modern music. Support comes from local folk experimentalists Seadog. (IC)??
THE SOFT-PACK Freebutt Thurs 14th
What’s the point in other bands when you’ve spent a decade straight, no sleep, listening to The Velvet Underground? Particularly ones so in thrall to their NYC Godfathers? This is the question SOURCE and its esteemed editor chewed over at the 2009 Great Escape, as The Soft Pack thrashed their way through a scuzzed-up, derailed set of razors-edge guitars and trash can drums, complete with heroic Spacemen 3 encore. Our decision? Give us Heroin every day of the week, thanks. (BG)
OK GO Concorde 2 Sun 14th
Alright, so they’re the purveyors of incredibly cheesy pop-rock, but their songs have a grating appeal and the vocals are far, far less nasal since their debut single Get Over It. Although they probably won’t get treadmills on stage (yes, THAT music video), those not sickened beyond belief will definitely be treated to a spectacular show and leave with smiles plastered firmly onto their faces. A guaranteed sunny respite from the cold streets outside. (NH)
MARINA & THE DIAMONDS Audio Mon 15th
The online communities, and more recently NME, have been all over Ms Diamondis for the last year or so, building up her promise of hugeness to titanic proportions. The BBC Sound Of 2010 Poll elevated the expectation putting her in second place, so seeing her play Audio will no doubt be one of those ‘I was there’ moments, for she will undoubtedly outgrow this type of venue soon enough. Expect top-drawer showmanship and her outstanding selection of unique, chorus-fuelled, electro pop tracks from her exceptional debut, Family Jewels. (TR)
NME AWARDS TOUR Dome Mon 15th
The inkie institution’s annual New Year jaunt offers the chance for slower gig goers to play catch up, with this decent selection of the mag’s staple young men with guitars fare. Chirpy Brooklyn pretty boys The Drums land the fabled ‘lucky’ (unless you’re Mumm-Ra) opening slot, with the old school indie of Bombay Bicycle Club and The Big Pink’s art school electro warming up for The Maccabees’ undoubtedly triumphant hometown headline. Not a cutting edge evening, but unarguable tunes aplenty. (SH)
OWL CITY Komedia Weds 17th
Another BBC Sound Of 2010 tip plays in Brighton, although this one arrives on the back of a rather unexpected American number one for his debut single Fireflies. Cute laptop pop, but with added sugary American choruses, shows Adam Young has a fair bit of talent saved on his computer. He comes to Brighton having sold out every slot on his US tour, before playing a stream of dates globally between now and May. It will be interesting to see how the UK reacts. (TR)
OWL CITY Komedia Weds 17th.
Owl City’s Adam Young has already tallied up millions of loyal MySpace listeners and is about to release his latest wonder, Ocean Eyes. With streams of catchy, beautiful songs that captivate the heart and mind, the lush listening experience he seems to conjure can be heard at Komedia this month. With what promises to be a wonderful and imaginative performance, this is definitely not to be missed. (CC)
THE SUNSHINE UNDERGROUND Digital Weds 17th
Their debut album, Raise The Alarm, was one of the best kept secrets of 2006, with its remarkably energetic, catchy indie pop crafted out of The Rapture’s special moulding. Following several years of inaction they finally release their much-anticipated follow up album, Nobody’s Coming To Save You, this February. This gig will be part of that album’s promotion, so expect the new songs, paired up with all the usual high energy, choppy, brilliance. (TR)
CRAZY ARM Prince Albert Weds 17th
Crazy Arm are a punk rock outfit in the Frank Turner vein, and this should be an amazing, furious, fist-pounding-the-air show. Don’t be discouraged by their apparent on-the-new-punk-bandwagon style, these guys have a country edge which creates anthemic, blasting rays of happy, fast-paced rock noise. (NH)
WILD PALMS Digital Weds 17th
If you fancy something that’s fresh out of its wrapping, but gaining lots of momentum on the blogs, then check out this London four-piece. Their track Over Time is something very special indeed, particularly with its razor guitars, but it’s the frontman Lou Hill who is the star of their show. His brave vocals wander from casual charmer to haunting Andrew Eldritch-esque choruses. It’s still early days for them, but their energetic, stylish, fearless indie has the potential to properly break through in 2010. (TR)
THE WILLKOMMEN ORCHESTRA Unitarian Church Fri 19th
Brighton’s very own folk family and record label The Willkommen Collective join together this month for a special one-off show under the name The Willkommen Orchestra. Assembled together from various members of the collective, the twenty piece band will be playing songs from the back catalogues of Shoreline, Sons of Noel & Adrian, The Miserable Rich and The Climbers, with the lush and intimate surroundings of the Unitarian Church providing the perfect backdrop for what promises to be a unique and special evening of music. (IC)
BITTER RUIN The Ranelagh Mon 22nd
Back from a brief stint flogging their gothic-cabaret song stylings in the US, Bitter Ruin’s Ben and Georgia team cynical, dark love songs with acoustic guitar and unique showmanship. As an added bonus, this particular gig is free, so you have no excuse not to go and experience the magic in person. None at all. (NH)
GIRLS Audio Mon 22nd
There’s currently a fusion of sounds going on, born out of garage bands and surf pop. It’s mainly coming from the West Coast of America, suiting its sunny Santa Cruz disposition, alongside the likes of Toro Y Moi, and occasionally from the East coast with Real Estate. They’re unified by their echoing vocals and chiming guitars that bleed into rattling beats. With a bit of luck, the ex-Holy Shit and Ariel Pink member, Chris Owens, should have the album completed by the time he gets here too. (TR)
NIK KERSHAW Concorde 2 Mon 25th
It’s been over 25 years since Nik Kershaw landed on Earth, an ailing intergalactic pop time-traveller with a naff, silvery 3-D suit made out of a moving road, who scared teen Britain half to death as we got high on sherbet dib dabs during Swap Shop. Well, now he’s back. So people, rip up that Rickroller fanzine, shun Chesney Hawkes (also in town this month attempting career resurrection) to pay homage to a true 80s hero. And yes Nik, it would be good… (BG)
YEASAYER Digital Fri 26th
One of the best bands around arrives in Brighton on the back of their new album, Odd Blood, which has turned out to be as satisfyingly progressive as we could have hoped for following their delightful debut, All Hour Cymbals. The sequel has captured and built on all the clever melodies from its predecessor, but lost none of its mystical magic. It’s an enjoyable step up, with lead single Ambling Alp just one of its many highlights. This band is deservedly enjoying a rocketing ascendancy to greatness. (TR)
LOCAL NATIVES Concorde 2 Fri 26th
Headliners from 2009’s NME Radar Tour return to the Concorde with their atmospheric harmonic sound. Like genre-mates Fleet Foxes before them, they had a magnificent SXSW last year, earning them attention in the UK which subsequently out-grew their American fan base, causing them to release their debut here months before the US. Being the music snobs that we are we love this fact, so we welcome back with open arms these non-local, non-natives for another brilliant tour. (TR)
SONS OF NOEL AND ADRIAN Prince Albert Fri 26th
The Wilkommen tour begins its UK leg at The Prince Albert, presumably as a salute to its humble origins. Supported by O Emperor and Alessi’s Ark, this will be a cavalcade of snuggly, gorgeous, waltzing and gentle folk at its most serene. (NH)??
NOISETTES Dome Fri 26th
Proof that attending the BRIT School, soundtracking a car advert and bucketloads of major label promotion aren’t necessarily impediments to a struggling indie rock band, Noisettes get to headline the Dome pretty much on the strength of one song. To be fair, Don’t Upset The Rhythm (Go Baby Go) ended up one of 2009’s better pop hits, sending their current album gold, but Noisettes still have a lot to prove to tonight’s casual crowd. (SH)
X FACTOR Brighton Centre Sat 27th
We need some help here, in seeing the appeal of a bill consisting of people who lost a talent show for not being good enough. The line-up will doubtless draw from the toothsome runners-up as well as a cheerful smattering of the early round uglies, fatties and mental patients, all grasping at the X endorsement for the last time before the last vestiges of misplaced optimism and self-belief are wrenched from their fingertips, as they exit the stage door and find themselves out by the bins. This really is a show for the hard of thinking, yet hoards of Brighton fuckwits will doubtless attend. Unbelievable. (NC)
Words by Ian Chambers, Charlotte Chorley, Nick Coquet, Ben Gilbert, Nicole Holgate, Stuart Huggett, The Recommender and Dominic Valvona