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

The Monochrome Set Review

Feb 11, 2013
-
Posted by Stuart Huggett

Art schooled post punk group The Monochrome Set reformed a couple of years ago to record ‘Platinum Coils’, a lively and affecting album written during singer Bid’s recovery from a stroke. A cult band at home in the UK, they’ve always had a large following abroad, and have recently been performing short tours and one off dates around the world whenever possible.

Tonight’s gig followed a sold out return to Brighton at the Green Door Store last year, and Sticky Mike’s is heaving with well turned out fans from their 80s heyday. With one or two exceptions, however, (did we really spot old Cherry Red labelmate Momus in the crowd?) none are as stylishly dressed as The Monochrome Set. Few bands pay as much attention to their tailoring as they.

Starting off with ‘The Monochrome Set’ itself – their tongue in cheek, Monkees indebted signature tune – the group take a while to hit their stride. With bassist Andy Warren staring the crowd out and laconic guitarist Lester Square in a state of casual concentration, Bid (just Bid) leads the show at his own pace. Oldies ‘The Lighter Side Of Dating’ and evergreen single ‘The Jet Set Junta’ are dispensed with before the audience warm up, but there’s a willingness on our part for the group to find their comfort zone. And it’s with a brace of his atypically personal ‘Platinum Coils’ songs that Bid does so, the band following suit.

Confidence restored, quick witted songs from their classic 1982 LP ‘Elegant Bachelors’ are gratefully received, even as Bid’s threat never to play the daft astrological tale ‘I’ll Scry Instead’ again are met with protests. There are highlights aplenty to come, including the moving, autobiographical ‘I’m Happy To Be Here’, the irrepressible ‘Jacob’s Ladder’ (one of the great lost singles of the 80s) and the slinky, unfathomable ‘Eine Symphonie Des Grauens’, which generates some enthusiastic interpretive dancing outbreaks.

Two encores ensue, with Bid’s solo ‘Goodbye Joe’ leading into frantic ’79 debut ‘He’s Frank’ and, eventually, UK pop’s most honest sex song ‘The Mating Game’. With tonight’s long mix of new songs, never-quite hit singles and unexpected old album tracks, this was a thorough fans’ show from a rejuvenated band whose health and happiness was heartening to see.

Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, Saturday 2nd February 2013
Words by Stuart Huggett

Feb 11, 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
Great Escape Line-Up Announced
NEXT POST →
It’s Going To Get Worse And Worse And Worse, My Friend, Thurs 11th April
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
The Monochrome Set Review - Brighton Source