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
Palma Violets | Brighton Source
Palma Violets | Brighton Source
Palma Violets | Brighton Source
Palma Violets | Brighton Source
Reviews

Palma Violets Review

Dec 17, 2013
-
Posted by Andy Baker

Tonight Palma Violets stop off at the Concorde2 on their Rattlesnake Rodeo Tour. Childhood and Telegram are in support.

It’s a sold out show and the staff at the door seem a little sceptical about letting us in. It’s no surprise though as they seem like they’ve got their hands full with fans desperate to get inside one way or another. We’re admitted in time to catch Childhood who impress the packed-out crowd. Comparisons have been made with the Stone Roses but their dreamy psychedelic style of shoegaze feels more comparable to some of their American contemporaries.

‘Blue Velvet’ has a nod to the Mersey Beat scene but the vocals of singer Ben Romans-Hopcraft (sporting a spectacular afro) are reminiscent of Wild Nothing’s distant dreaminess. ‘Haltija’ has all the youthful exuberance of the Pains of Being Pure At Heart and Smith Westerns at their most psychedelic and summery. This writer can’t remember the last time he’s seen a support band cause quite such a stir with the crowd as fans pogo energetically throughout.

Palma Violet have become a pretty big deal since their last visit to Brighton playing The Great Escape in 2011. Known for their frantic and combustible live shows we wait amongst the dense sea of humanity for things to potentially get very sweaty.

It doesn’t take long. Palma Violets storm the stage to an ecstatic reaction while The Cramps ‘Human Fly’ blares out of the venue speakers. The atmosphere is at fever pitch and we can’t help but feel there’s a special something in the air tonight. The Lambeth boys open with ‘Rattlesnake Highway’ which races along at breakneck speed and is propelled by William Doyle’s funereal organ tones. Sam Fryer’s classic croon sounds brilliant combined with Chilli Jesson’s intermittent punky snarls and howls. All Doherty/Barat, Jones/Strummer comparisons aside, the two have an obvious chemistry which feels unforced. It’s a magnetic spectacle live.

The fans inside the Concorde obviously agree. As the boys drop NME’s track of last year, ‘Best Of Friends’, a huge pit erupts and the crowd becomes a wave of bodies crashing from side to side. Chilli riles them up further by climbing the barricade and gesticulating like a young Iggy Pop.

Album highlight ‘14’ is where things take a turn for the anthemic and all of a sudden it feels like being in the terraces at a football match as everyone sings along to “All fourteen, all fourteen take me home”. The whole thing finishes with a massive stage invasion from members of Telegram and Childhood. Fans are crowd surfing, scaling the barriers and clambering on top of each other. The frontman of Telegram Matt Saunders dives off of the stage into the crowd as Palma Violets salute their followers from the stage and disappear. It’s rock’n’roll mayhem at its best.

Concorde2, Wednesday 4th December 2013
Words by Andy Baker
Photos by Ashley Laurence

Dec 17, 2013
Email
Andy Baker
Andy started writing because he was always endlessly chewing people's ears off about gigs and new records. Particularly into hip hop, electro and the early noughties guitar scene but enjoys the production on most things. Occasional DJ, will play Kanye West at inappropriate times at parties.
← PREVIOUS POST
Centiment, Thurs 20th Feb
NEXT POST →
Albert Hammond, Jr. Review
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Great Escape 2025 Day 4 Review
    Jun 13, 2025

    Day 4 started with a party whistle thrash punk Extravaganza and ended with the glorious debut of Post Common. We love you TGE.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 3 Review
    Jun 9, 2025

    One of the real joys of the Great Escape is you can often see the bands that really grab you more than once. Day 3 delivered.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 2 Review
    Jun 7, 2025

    Day 2 provided a diverse range of acts. Within 30 minutes we went from beautiful Australian folk to riotous Korean DnB and that was before tea time!

  • The Girl On The Train Review
    Jun 7, 2025

    A fantastic adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ bestselling novel which is a beautiful balance of acting, theatricality and gritty story telling.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 1 Review
    Jun 6, 2025

    No longer just a day for getting your wrist band; some serious heavy hitters were brought out for a cracking day one.

  • Winnie The Pooh Review
    Jun 2, 2025

    A delightful venture into the 100 acre wood with Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh and their friends: full of wonder, innocence and charm.

  • Lower Slaughter Return With New Album And Headline Show
    May 30, 2025

    New line up! New Album! New Show! Same heavy heavy monster riffs. Winner.

  • Delightfully Dark Review
    May 30, 2025

    A fresh and hilariously funny one man cabaret show about the absurdity of death, living a finite existence and embracing life in all its imperfections.

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2023
Palma Violets Review - Brighton Source