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

Sea Monsters Day 2 Review

Jan 24, 2013
-
Posted by Stuart Huggett

For day two of Sea Monsters, it’s the turn of DJs and promoters Teen Creeps to curate the show, pulling together a bill of bands that each set out to stretch guitar pop in different directions, sometimes to breaking point.

Great Pagans are first up, striking into zippy opener ‘Not Been Myself Lately’ as the room starts to fill. The intricate patterns of their recent Anti-Ghost Moon Ray tape shine tonight, complementing the melodic songcraft honed during their apprenticeship as Duke Raoul. A confident, relaxed performance finally releases its energy for the fizzing riffs of ‘Teenage Silhouettes’. Softly spoken they may be, but Great Pagans have it in them to go far.

Tigercub are up next, the rhythm section of the trio a curious hybrid of glam drummer and hirsute bassist. However, it’s frontman Jamie Hall’s ‘Goo’ tee that points to Tigercub’s grunge pop credentials, born of the 90s rock boom; that and his serendipitous resemblance to a handsome young Chris Novoselic (from our perch at the back of the room, at least). Tigercub mix super tuneful Nirvana nuggets with low down T.Rex struts and are pretty damn irresistible. “You’re so pretty!” yelps a besotted woman down the front. “Aye, thanks pet” Hall replies, in the manner of someone who may have heard this before, but still appreciates it. Bless them.

Things are heating up in the room for the much fancied Traams, a taut, wiry trio by way of Chi town. Traams channel a clattering motorik garage sound, all tensed muscle repetition and strangled vocal treble. The group rapidly build a full head of steam, pulling spirals of nagging, ragged guitar lines out of the mix. The rapid pace of ‘Flowers’ and hypnotic drive of ‘Klaus’ go down strongly, while the succinct ‘Peggy’ proves they can knock out the odd effortless pop scrawl too. A definite win.

Last on are Sea Monsters psych veterans Negative Pegasus, who effectively lay waste to everything that’s preceded them. Strafing the crowd with an opening salvo of churning pedal noise, the trio’s gears begin to grind and soon the air in front of the stage is starting to melt. With impressive casualness, drummer Carla Foss holds the beat down through each lengthy acid excursion, as her bandmates howl their way through the thundering fuzzstorm. Negative Pegasus have some zonked out songs buried under the noise assault, and they deliver them like a snowplough through our frontal lobes. There’s no way back from this mindfuck. Total wipeout, until the next night.

Prince Albert, Tuesday 22nd January 2013
Words by Stuart Huggett
Photos by Simon Brice

Read more SOURCE Sea Monsters reviews:
Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7

Jan 24, 2013
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
Poets Vs MCs 2013 Review
NEXT POST →
Pear Shaped Apparel
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Love Supreme Festival 2025 Review
    Jul 13, 2025

    Despite the poor weather, the performers, whether legends or newcomers, shone to ensure this year's festival ranked as one of the best yet.

  • Ghost Stories Review
    Jul 8, 2025

    A genuinely terrifying production, beautifully produced, stunningly acted and wonderfully directed. If you love a good psychological horror; don’t miss this.

  • Oral Habit Release Garage Frock! ep With a Family Store In-Store
    Jul 5, 2025

    Is this the best new band in Brighton? Team Source says "Hell Yeah!"

  • Get Ready For Some Summer Hi Jinx
    Jun 26, 2025

    New promotions team Hi Jinx are inviting you for beer and free live music beside the seaside. What's not to like?

  • Big Long Sun Launch Album No 2!
    Jun 25, 2025

    With two slamming singles the new Big Long Sun album should be the soundtrack to late night summer parties across the land.

  • 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!

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2023
Sea Monsters Day 2 Review - Brighton Source