Our compere this evening Chris Davies, who can best be described as Brighton’s very own version of Jarvis Cocker, welcomes the first band onto the stage at the Rialto Theatre: Yassassin. The five-piece, from London, are celebrating their one year anniversary as a band. They have the nineties sound of Elastica and PJ Harvey, and the fiery energy and spirit of a punky Spice Girls with tracks like ‘Pretty Face’ and ‘Social Politics’ particular pinnacles of the set.
With a stage turnaround just long enough to grab another drink from the Rialto’s art deco bar downstairs, Copenhagen natives Baby In Vain are up and ready to go. It’s been a good week for Baby In Vain – the band are on the second night of their supporting slot on PINS’ UK tour and they also released their new single ‘Transcendent’ a couple of days ago, which follows their 2016 EP ‘For the Kids’. While tracks like ‘The Urge’ are driven by electronic undertones, other parts of the set have the band sliding seamlessly from heavy metal guitar riffs into the sludge of early-90s grunge. Ending with the snarling vocals of ‘Jesusfreaks’, the trio have a massive impact on the room.
We’re properly packed into the Rialto as our headline act take to the floor tonight. PINS stride onto stage and open with their new single ‘Aggrophobe’. The band’s new EP, ‘Bad Thing’ was released last month and sees the band moving towards a heavier, more electronic noise than their previous two records, 2015’s ‘Wild Nights’ and 2013’s ‘Girls Like Us’.
The more optimistic of us in the crowd may have been slightly disappointed that ‘Aggrophobe’ guest vocalist Iggy Pop didn’t jump out from behind a curtain, but bassist Anna Donigan takes the mantle and delivers a great performance. The mic is then handed back to lead vocalist Faith Holgate, who snakes around the stage and into the crowd as the band deliver a set of new EP tracks, as well as crowd favourites like ‘Young Girls’ and ‘Dazed By You’.
A particular highlight of the night is the band’s cover of ‘Dead Souls’, by their Mancunian forbearers Joy Division. Not a task to be taken lightly, we’re sure you’ll agree, but drummer Sophie Galpin handles the task with ease and the band’s newfound electronic sounds lends itself to a solid tribute to the original.
The band closes the night after a cheerful encore by conducting less of a stage invasion and more of a stage invitation, as Holgate brings their fans on stage to dance out the evening.
Rialto Theatre, Tuesday 11th April 2017
Words by Kate Standing
Photos by Jon Southcoasting
