Type and hit ENTER

Commonly used tags...

Brighton Festival Brighton Fringe Brighton Pride British Sea Power Cinecity Lewes Psychedelic Festival Locally Sourced Lost & Found Love Supreme Festival Mutations Festival Nick Cave Poets Vs MCs Politics Rag'n'Bone Man Record Store Day Save Our Venues Six Of The Best Source Virgins Streets Of Brighton Street Source Tattoos The Great Escape Tru Thoughts Unsung Heroes
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
Reviews

Flash Bang Band Review

Jul 2, 2012
-
Posted by Stuart Huggett

Taking advantage of a midweek lull in Euro 2012 fixtures, Put It On have dragged three Sussex bands off the sofa for a football-free showcase. We haven’t seen headliners Flash Bang Band since catching the tail-end of their set at another PIO show last year, and tonight offers the bonus chance to find out what Fifi Dewey’s been up to since leaving The Half Sisters.

First on are Bognor Regis trio Mohit, stepping onto the bill at very short notice after the original openers dropped out. Good on them for volunteering too as, despite their nervous, gabbling stage banter, they’re a refreshingly tight blast of no-frills power-prog. Frontman James Redfern‘s bass and co-vocalist Toby Baxter‘s guitar get entangled in taught wiry lines, and Danny Brooks is a dynamo drummer. To Mohit’s evident relief, the room fills.

Fifi Dewey’s also needlessly nervy at first, struggling to hear her guitar, then breaking it. She’s not alone up there though, with writing partner Ross McLean (aka former Tru Thoughts artist Mawglee) on drums and bassist Clare Caldwell filling out the sound. Technical hitches fixed, her confidence returns, revealing a songbook of succinct, distinctive pop tunes. McLean‘s laptop holds things together with pointillist programming and multi-layered harmonies from a chorus of pre-recorded Deweys. You can hear echoes of the (still extant) Half Sisters in her music, but stepping away from their drum kit has opened up her songwriting to a world of new sounds.

The scruffily endearing Flash Bang Band have snuck up to become quite the contenders, their bratty psych-pop touching base with the juvenile energy of early Supergrass and the addled intelligence of The Move. The whirlwind drumming causes Rodney Roodt‘s kit to collapse in the opening minutes, while guitarist Andy Halliday and bassist Rob Carmier yelp, scramble and leap like excited puppies. Flash Band Band are scrappy, but they’re not dumb, their acidic garage nuggets seething around a solid pop core. A score draw all round.

Hope, Wednesday 20th June 2012
Words by Stuart Huggett

Jul 2, 2012
Email
Stuart Huggett
Stuart Huggett grew up in Hastings, writing fanzines and blogs about the town’s underground music scene. He has been a regular contributor to SOURCE, NME, The Quietus and Bowlegs. His huge archive of magazines, flyers and vinyl is either an invaluable research tool or a bloody pain. He occasionally runs tinpot record label Dizzy Tiger, DJs sporadically and plays live even less.
← PREVIOUS POST
Dave Mumbles Interview
NEXT POST →
Dinoporn
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Inspector Morse: House of Ghosts Review
    Oct 21, 2025

    Expectations are high with a new Inspector Morse story on stage, sadly this is more a ghost of a Morse story, although die hard fans might enjoy it for the nostalgia.

  • The Lovely Eggs Interview
    Oct 15, 2025

    The Lovely Eggs tell us about their 20th anniversary, the new album and tour with Polite Bureax and some comedy legends supporting.

  • Ocean Film Festival Review 2025
    Oct 11, 2025

    A selection of beautifully shot short films covering diverse ocean lovers' passion for interacting with the sea.

  • Fractured Album Launch, Saturday 20th December
    Oct 10, 2025

    Fractured celebrate the release of their new album supported by Amelia And The Housewives.

  • 2:22 A Ghost Story Review
    Oct 7, 2025

    An evening of two couples having dinner together has never before been so gripping and enthralling, filled with tension, with the ultimate question: is their new house haunted or not?

  • Richard Hawley Review
    Oct 5, 2025

    As Coles Corner turns 20, Richard Hawley dazzled and delighted an up-for-it Worthing crowd with a 2 hour-plus set.

  • Brighton Psych Fest 2025 Review
    Sep 26, 2025

    The second Brighton Psych Fest was a beauty as we got down with Getdown Services as the evening sunlight glowed through the Concorde Stained Glass.

  • David Devant & His Spirit Wife, Friday 12th December
    Sep 23, 2025

    One of Brighton's greatest live bands returns for a pre-Xmas homecoming party.

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2023
Flash Bang Band Review - Brighton Source