WIRE Komedia Tues 1st
Watford Art College’s enduring gift to the world, Wire’s on/off career has ranged from tongue-in-cheek punk, proto hardcore, performance art and glowing electronic pop. Reduced to a trio following the departure of founding guitarist Bruce Gilbert (Matt Simms of gentle indie folk It Hugs Back is Wire’s surprise current fourth limb), the group’s accessibly abrasive new album ‘Red Barked Tree’ shows the unique, cryptic belligerence of songwriters Colin Newman and Graham Lewis has remained intact. (SH)
ESBEN AND THE WITCH Pavilion Theatre Tues 1st
Brighton’s purveyors of what The Line Of Best Fit brilliantly describe as “nightmare pop” return for a homecoming gig. 2011 is all set to be massive for them, as their nomination on the recent BBC Sound of 2011 poll is quickly followed by dates around the UK and Europe, supporting the release of their debut album, ‘Violet Cries’. If The XX were the dark sound of 2010’s recession misery, then Esben And The Witch may well be the sound of 2011’s continuing economic fallout. Serious, but seriously good. (TR)
ILIKETRAINS Hope Weds 2nd
Guitar music is dead. Put down that plank of composite materials, young man, and plug your brain into an iPad. Actually, scratch that, because if there is a band still extolling the virtues of this seemingly disintegrating tradition it’s this Leeds four-piece. Sufficiently twisted to command mythical, if low budget, attention, debut album ‘Elegies To Lessons Learnt’ was a harrowing history lesson while new collection ‘He Who Saw The Deep’ is more fiction but no less power. British rock’s very own Mallard locomotive has arrived. (BG)
CLARE MAGUIRE Dome Weds 2nd
Whether you care for the recent BBC Sound of 2011 poll or not, it undoubtedly has an effect on the artist’s careers – just see how fast the winner Jessie J’s single subsequently climbed the charts. Clare Maguire, tipped by many to top the poll, (although eventually settling for a top five), arrives in Brighton in support of one of the poll’s finalist from 2009, Hurts. With an astonishing voice being likened to everyone from Florence & The Machine, to Sharleen Spiteri, to Tammy Wynette, it’s live that she should shine. (TR)
WHAT’S YOUR VICE? •Hector’s House Thurs 3rd
Local girl-fronted alt.rock band What’s Your Vice? headline this female-fronted night at Hector’s, exhibiting their tight, trashy, rhythmic guitars, throbbing basslines, and punky, vacuous lyrics. Support comes from the talented Iris the Fool, who are also a Brighton-based, female-led four-piece, this time with catchy pop songs and soaring vocals; and Londoners Indigo Earth, a multi-talented group with earthy, bohemian sounds and meandering tales to tell. Definitely worth heading down for, especially as it’s free entry. (JMM)
A DAY TO REMEMBER Dome Fri 4th
Boasting the ability to blur punk pop with brutal hardcore beats and push the boundaries of musical evolution to its limits, A Day To Remember ignite the demands of a generation unsatisfied with the conventional, identikit bands forced at them. Bred from the creative depths of Florida, this fivesome have overtaken stereos and mosh pits globally and produced their latest album, ‘Homesick’ – their heaviest and catchiest yet. Sending shudders through the underground with their indefinable spark of something truly unique, these guys are set to rattle your bones. (CC)
JIMMY WEBB St Mary’s Church Fri 4th
“I am a lineman for the county/And I drive the main road. Searching in the sun for another overload/I hear you singing in the wire/I can hear you through the whine/And the Wichita Lineman, is still on the line.” Words that have left SOURCE and its editor starry-eyed on many occasions and if there ever was a greater gig recommendation than Glen Campbell’s 1968 pop masterpiece, written by tonight’s esteemed guest star, we have yet to hear it. (BG)
FREELANCE WHALESAudio Sat 5th
This New York five-piece play the intimate surroundings of Audio as they arrive in the UK for a handful of dates. Their album ‘Weathervanes’, arrived last summer and drew comparisons from Death Cab For Cutie to Arcade Fire to Sufjan Stevens, packed as it is with tune after tune of charming indie pop. Expect layered, atmospheric pop songs that you can hum along to and a multitude of instruments on show, some of which you’ve never heard of (what’s a waterphone?). (TR)
BEN WEAVER Basement Sat 5th
There are some singers that can throw you face first into another place. Steeped in old American folk and a Tom Waits like voice, Ben Weaver’s songs are a poetic, soulful and painfully true depiction of love and life. His lyrics make you feel the bitter cold, dirt and smoke of the mid west. They are also surprisingly relatable and real (‘It’s that hour when if you’re not asleep, you’re alone’). A lesser-known talent not to be passed by. (SJ)
WHITE LIES Corn Exchange Mon 7th
The resurgence of 80s techno is clearly far from over, making the pop music scene feel sometimes like a long night of cover bands. If this sounds cynical, it is, and has led to constant comparisons for White Lies with older bands. Harry McVeigh’s voice has been compared to Ian Curtis, but White Lies refer to Talking Heads as a bigger influence, mixing haunting vocals with an upbeat sound. Judge them on their own merits, just don’t, like us, mention Joy Division. (SJ)
LITTLE COMETS Audio Weds 9th
At best you could stand this band on the shelf alongside The Maccabees or Foals, but at worst you could hide them amongst The Hoosiers or The Feeling. In fairness there’s a lot of melody and charm in their finest moments, culminating in their fantastic tune, ‘Isles’, which brings out the best from the only working class band in math rock. They fell out with major label Columbia, so we will see if the Tyneside four-piece have flourished under independence as they release their debut album. (TR)
MAN LIKE ME Jam Weds 9th
You already know this band, although you may not be aware of it. They’re the dancing duo that flirt around the kitchen sets of the recent Ikea advert, to the 80s Jona Lewie tune, ‘You’ll Always Find Me At The Kitchen At Parties’. We should dislike them, with this commercial bit of bending over alongside their usual comedy lyrics, but alas we promise their live set will win you over. They jam like they don’t care, encourage infectious dance routines and are set to inherit the Madness crown. (TR)
THE PHOENIX FOUNDATION Hope Weds 9th
Although they’ve been around well over a decade, New Zealanders The Phoenix Foundation are probably only known, if at all, on these shores for providing the soundtrack to 2007’s crossover comedy Eagle vs Shark (are there any Flight Of The Conchords fans left who haven’t seen it?) Inevitably, their whimsical psychedelia has seen The Phoenix Foundation pass through the hallowed Flying Nun roster. With charming fourth album ‘Buffalo’ out here on Memphis Industries the band deserves some European affection. (SH)
THE SATURDAYS Brighton Centre Tues 15th
The new Girls Aloud? Yeah, right. While the name speaks of a 24-hour rubdown in the pop pleasuredome with no work in the morning, it feels more like a drab midweek locked in a coal shed. Cheryl and co have entered the pantheon of animated pop icons, boasting a handful of chart bangers seemingly recorded in space. But Frankie and whatever the other ones are called have less good songs than Babylon Zoo. Tellingly, tonight’s gig takes place on a Tuesday. (BG)
SLEIGH BELLS Digital Tues 15th
Brooklyn’s noise terrorists Sleigh Bells make a swift return to Brighton in 2011, after being massively hyped last year. Their debut LP ‘Treats’ made it into Pitchfork’s top 20 albums of 2010, so this might be a chance to see what’s next to come from Derek E. Miller and Alexis Krauss. It’s safe to say you can expect ear splitting machine gun beats and guitar riffs that will hurt your mind. They’re known for cranking it up a level, so bring your ear plugs if you want to hear anything but fuzz after this one. (KK)
DEAN WAREHAM Komedia Weds 16th
Dean Wareham quit stratospheric Massachusetts trio Galaxie 500 at the start of the 90s, but has been unafraid of playing the occasional old song of theirs in his shows over the years. Tonight he plays a full set of Galaxie 500 classics, performed with his partner Britta Phillips (once of shoegazers The Belltower, and, wonderfully, the singing voice of kids’ cartoon Jem) and band. A smattering of covers and Dean & Britta’s own Luna tunes are more than likely. (SH)
THE GO! TEAM • Concorde 2 Weds 16th
The Go! Team refuse to play by the conventional rules of punctuation, and this is only the start of their rebellious style. Bursting out of Brighton in 2004, Ian Parton’s group mixes so many genres it’s hard to keep up; electro, soul, hip hop, even bhangra and folk. What comes out of this experiment is something altogether fresh and uplifting. See them live at the Concorde, just leave your old rules at the door. (SJ)
THE GO! TEAM* Concorde 2 Weds 16th
The populist joy of The Go! Team’s primary coloured pop was evident the day we heard their debut 7″ way back in 2000, when they were still a lo-fi sampling project operating out of a Western Road flat. Now the whole world loves them, hooray! We were lucky enough to get a preview of their current live show over Christmas at the Bowlie 2 festival, and basically their new album ‘Rolling Blackouts’ is going to kick your ass tonight. (SH)
NME AWARDS TOURDome Thurs 17th
This year’s NME awards tour boasts a line-up that will definitely be shaking the multi-coloured tents come the summer. Starting proceedings are the hotly-tipped Vaccines who are definitely going to be one to watch this year. They’re followed by one of the best bands to come out of 2010, the un-genre-ably excellent Everything Everything. Dubstep super group Magnetic Man take to the stage next, headliners Crystal Castles will certainly provide a suitably chaotic finale. (JC)
TWIN SHADOW Audio Thurs 17th
It’s perhaps a good sign that bookings for this artist already mean he’s almost constantly touring between now and May. We even noticed a show already scheduled for September. Blogs such as Stereogum adore him and so now does everyone else who comes into contact with his sparkling debut album, ‘Forget’, released late last year. It feels like David Bowie doing Echo & The Bunnymen covers, but with one foot firmly in this new decade. If you go to gigs to discover new artists then go to this. (TR)
THE VACCINES Dome Thurs 17th
Zane Lowe says they will “kickstart a new era” but what does he know? The Datsuns’ home phone number? Well, the mouth-frothing reception to the London four-piece’s Jesus & Mary Chain-styled ramalama certainly suggests we should place more faith in them than the imminent return of The Strokes. The Vaccines recently came third in the BBC’s coveted Sound Of 2011 survey, having announced their arrival with a none more swaggering, 83 seconds long debut single. Indie is sick. Could this be the cure? (BG)
GLASSER Hope Weds 23rd
On last year’s debut ‘Ring’, Glasser’s Cameron Mesirow constructed a languid album of percussive balladry from her multi-layered vocal loops and broad palette of hypnotic instrumentation. ‘Ring’ has been a sleeper hit since its autumn release, but we’ve had to wait several months for Glasser to make it back across the Atlantic for this month’s short string of dates. Mesirow can handle solo Glasser performances impressively (see YouTube), although she’s due to perform with a full band tonight. (SH)
CHARLIE PARR The Basement 24 February
Charlie’s annual visit to Brighton is an essential part of the calendar for those who like their guitars played with passion and fingerpicking perfection. The last couple of places Charlie played were The Sussex Arts Club and The Engine Room so let’s hope he’s shaken off his curse for the Basement’s sake. His last album was a collaboration with The Blak Twig Pickers but his shows are usually solo events. Expect old-time country blues executed perfectly on both banjo and resonator guitar. (SC)
CHARLIE PARR Basement Thurs 24th
Country Blues musician Charlie Parr is a sight to behold live. Accompanying himself on a fretless banjo, a resonator guitar and a 12-string guitar, on hearing him you could be forgiven for thinking he had a band. The Americana of his music is complemented by a voice steeped in history and emotion. His lyrics have a wise edge to them, both personal and political. If you want the feel of an intimate campfire performance, this is the place. (SJ)
GRUFF RHYS St Georges Church Sat 26th
Super Furry Animals front man Gruff Rhys makes a welcome return to Brighton, promoting his third solo LP ‘Hotel Shampoo’. The title was inspired by his extensive collection of mini shampoo bottles acquired from hotels whilst touring the world. He’ll be supported and backed by Welsh post surf outfit Y Niwl (The Fog). Expect kaleidoscopic, psychedelic melodies in the perfect acoustic setting of St George’s Church. Grab yourself a beer and pull up a pew. (KK)
GRUFF RHYS St George’s Church Weds 26th
Some say Dave Grohl is the nicest man in rock but that accolade actually belongs to the Super Furry Animals’ mainbrain turned solo maverick. Only one of them can claim to have written a concept album about the misspent life of car maker John De Lorean and toured his last solo album, ‘Candylion’, backed by a cardboard mock-up of a plane. Tonight expect to hear latest work ‘Hotel Shampoo’ and be charmed to within an inch of your life by a mumbling Welshman. (BG)
AMERICANA UNPLUGGED Foundry every Sunday
Brighton’s hardest working cowgirl, Danni Nicholls, continues her Sunday night country-themed residency at The Foundry. This friendly, informal gathering hosted by Danni and featuring Germany’s friendliest double bass player, Nik Funke, showcases the finest local acts and, thanks to Danni’s overflowing contacts book, the best in touring international Americana performers. Arrive early to get a good spot and don’t be tight when the tip jar gets passed round. See also The Pull & Pump Pickin’ Party for a fortnightly midweek jam session. (SC)
WORDS BY CHARLOTTE CHORLEY, JAKE CUNNINGHAM, BEN GILBERT, STUART HUGGETT, SEAN JORDAN, KERI KENNEDY, JESSICA MARSHALL MCHATTIE, THE RECOMMENDER, STEVE CLEMENTS, SEAN JORDAN.