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
Neville Staple | Brighton Source
Neville Staple | Brighton Source
Reviews

Neville Staple Review

Feb 24, 2014
-
Posted by John McLean

Tattoo enthusiasts gather at the Hilton Hotel for the annual Brighton Tattoo Convention – now in its seventh year. Until last year the convention was held at the racecourse which was good for its seclusion and exclusivity, but inevitably, it was outgrown. The Hilton is a spacious, handsome venue; its elegant layout suiting the standard of art being produced and displayed throughout the building. The aftershow event is also at the hotel.

As the evening creeps in and the buzzing fades, the tattoo booths empty and the evening’s entertainment gets underway. First act Viva Le Pink fire up the early slot with some red-hot rockabilly. Their sassy upbeat style is very welcome in this crowd, especially when they throw in an Elvis cover. Steamy frontlady Missy Le Pink has enough curves to keep even the meanest bikers smiling.

Brit-ska band The Communicators arrive from the West Country wearing suits, ties and dark shades, like a gang of businessmen on a sunny day. They do look a lot like Madness. The set is mainly renditions of popular ska songs by Toots and the Maytals and The Specials, among others. Even their song ‘Guns’ is basically a cover because it has the classic trumpets from ‘Guns Of Navarone’ and the lyrics are all about living in a ghost town. In their version of The Eagles ‘Hotel California’ the brass replaces singing on the chorus and speeds up. Sadly by the end of the set this formula becomes a little too familiar and it’s understandable that some lose interest.

Neville Staple comes to the stage after a long musical intro. New tracks like ‘Pressure’ and a reworking of ‘Farmyard Connection’ are decent songs that are soon cast aside. Before long we all get what we want. Neville says the magic words “Warning, warning, nuclear attack” and immediately skinheads appear all over the dance floor. ‘Man At C & A’ is just a starter. The next Specials song is an adaptation of Dandy Livingstone’s 1967 ‘A Message To You Rudy’. This along with ‘Little Bitch’ and ‘Monkey Man’ (originally by Toots) really gets the room moving.

Neville gets a minute between songs to show us the Rude Boy blur on his arm: “I’ve got a tattoo. I’ve only got one. It’s a bit… I’ve had it years”. It obviously wasn’t his thing but the tattoo is still probably older than a lot of the people here.

The Brighton Tattoo Convention continues to offer interesting exhibits and entertainment. This particular evening Neville Staple is the star, but it continues to impress and improve every year.

Hilton Hotel, Saturday 15th Feb 2014
Words by John Mclean

Feb 24, 2014
Email
John McLean
John Mclean was born in Croydon, grew up in Hailsham and studied drama at Kingston University. John was writing for a website reviewing albums and gigs in Brighton for a short time before he began contributing to the SOURCE. Since then he has covered many gigs for us in various genres of music. John also reviews gigs and interviews bands for JackDaw Promotions and Reason 23 Music Promotions.
← PREVIOUS POST
Great Escape 2014 confirms next 150 bands
NEXT POST →
Brighton Music Conference DJ line-up announced
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • 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.

  • Nick Cave To Play Exclusive Brighton Show Next Summer
    Sep 15, 2025

    Nick Cave returns to Brighton next Summer for an exclusive show with The Bad Seeds in Preston Park.

  • Death Comes to Pemberley Review
    Sep 3, 2025

    Set six years after the marriage of Elizabeth to Mr Darcy, a murder on their estate takes this story into thriller territory.

  • The Lightning Thief Review
    Sep 1, 2025

    A high octane modern musical coming of age adventure about demi-god teens, complete with committed performances, stunning voices, and brilliantly inventive staging.

  • Betty Boo, Sunday 23rd November
    Sep 1, 2025

    The legendary Betty Boo is going on her first ever solo UK tour and you can catch her at The Green Door Store in November.

  • Mutations Festival 2025 Line Up Announcement
    Aug 28, 2025

    FORM are treating us to a Bonfire Weekend full of warm goodness, bangers and fireworks!

  • Pride And Prejudice Review
    Aug 27, 2025

    A beautifully realised adaptation of one of Jane Austen’s best loved books: giving us a grounded, real and hilarious retelling in perfect balance.

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2023
Neville Staple Review - Brighton Source