REVIEW: The Great Escape
- Posted on May 20, 2008 2:53 PM
- 0 comments
THE GREAT ESCAPE FESTIVAL
BRIGHTON 2008: Rock on the Rocks
by Peter Coulston
After a busy week in the steaming metropolis that is London, it’s Friday and I am off for a bit of sea air and good music at the Great Escape Festival in Brighton. It was just rock, rock, rock all the way, but then again that’s what Brighton is all about, right? The beach is covered with them, lots of shops sell sticks of it and the clubs and bars have more than they’re fair share of it this weekend, believe me. I hear that Rock Hudson even had a soft spot for the place though I can’t imagine why, can you? Anyway, the weather wasn’t that hot, in fact it was bitter out, so, as soon as I had picked up my wristband from the kiosk on the seafront, I headed for a nearby pub to sit down, study my festival guide and plan my day.
The pub I chose was the Fish Bowl, a nice hostelry that had also been chosen by a bunch of wedding guests as the pre ceremony watering hole. The state they were in, I hope the wedding wasn’t too late in the afternoon. As for the pub, it turned out to be the only pub in Brighton with its lights temporarily out of action, which made it very difficult to read my guide. Not to worry, help was at hand in the shape of a text message.
On Friday, there were no advertised performances at the venues, but there were secret gigs that folks were finding out about and texting their friends. That’s how I found out about the Theatre Royal on New Street and the collaboration between Mr Hudson and Soweto Kinch. This took place on the balcony of the theatre at 2pm as we all listened down in the street, rather like a scene from a Shakespearean play. The combination of the acoustic R&B of Mr Hudson and the jazz/hip hop of Soweto Kinch produced some extraordinary jazz fusion/ska with Mr Hudson’s excellent songs enhanced by searing alto sax and rap from Mr Kinch. They can be found on www.myspace.com/mrhudson and www.myspace.com/sowetokinch.
All this exhilarating music gave me an appetite and I could not help noticing an Italian restaurant nearby advertising mussels on a board outside. The price looked good so I ventured inside to be confronted by two guys tucking into the advertised crustaceans with the aid of very large glasses of Sicilian beer. I decided to follow suit, despite the fact that the restaurant was called Pinnochio’s, with all the connotations attached to that name. The waiters did not, however, appear to have particularly large noses and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch, despite the fact that they charged me for the garlic bread, which was supposed to be in with the price of the mussels. So what, eating in a restaurant with a name like that, I got off pretty light.
In an effort to walk off my lunch, I headed toward the sea front as I had not heard about any more secret gigs. They were obviously so secret that nobody even knew about them. As I strolled close to the beach, taking in the sea air and reading the silly postcards (I can’t believe that they still sell those things), my seasoned ears picked up the dulcet tones of a sound check. I was, in fact, standing outside the Honey Club, a rather shabby establishment that was preparing for the festivities that were due to begin at seven. It was, by this time, around 6pm, so I decided to stick around and have a beer outside with a good view of the sea. As I sat there, the club staff began moving the very ugly fencing that surrounds the club until it completely surrounded us and we were, in fact, fenced in apart from a small opening guarded by security staff. As I looked out, through the fencing and across the beach, to the sea beyond, I felt like an illegal immigrant who had just been caught trying to cross the channel on a raft. Then again, I don’t think they serve beer in detention centres, but don’t quote me on that.
When the music started, on time, it was, rather aptly, those Brisbane boys, The Boat People, who gave us some indie pop with a very sixties California flavour. The club may be a bit tacky, but the sound was spot on and the boys took full advantage. They are tight, look and sound good and know how to use the harmonies on some very catchy songs. Find them on www.myspace.com/theboatpeople.
For the final leg of the day, I opted for the Pavillion Theatre back on New Street as I wanted to catch up with Ox Eagle Lion Man, who I was very impressed with when they opened for Polyphonic Spree at the Astoria last September. I could not get in for the opening act, Johnny Flynn, an occupational hazard with these sort of festivals as the venues are governed by health and safety rules that mean that when it’s full, it’s full. After the first set, lots of people moved on and I was able to get in for Jeremy Walmsley, and I was glad I did. His brand of classically influenced indie folk rock was brilliant, featuring beautifully constructed songs that you would expect from Bowie or Brian Wilson. His backing band was as good as it should be and his vocals on songs like “Turn It Back” were just great. He has a single out covering the old New Order song, ”Temptation” and he is one to watch. For starters, go to www.myspace.com/jeremywalmsley.
I was not disappointed either with Ox Eagle Lion Man, the progressive pop four piece fronted by vocalist Frederick Blood-Royale, who looks a bit like Lloyd Grossman but, thankfully, sounds nothing like him. Again, there is early Bowie in here along with the Russian and French chanson influences that are being picked up by some of the more progressive bands. His vocals are devastating and the whole sound is a wall of heavy electronica that cannot be ignored and positively has to be heard at the next opportunity.
I am sure that www.myspace.com/oxeaglelionman has all you need to experience these phenomena. I would have liked to have stayed for the Young Knives but it’s a long walk back to South London so I legged it to the railway station after a great day of music and other distractions. Katie Spain and Zarina Raja ware there with their camera and microphone doing interviews and the like, so, for a far more coherent and complete account of the weekend, check out her feature.
Related links:
The Great Escape.
The Great Escape tickets.
The Great Escape uncut blog.
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