July | 2023 | Brighton Music Blog

Apparently it’s been ten years since Thomas White last played a solo gig. It’s not like he hasn’t been busy since – In that time there’s been a couple of Electric Soft Parade albums, the formation and retirement of The Fiction Aisle, unexpected ambient side project Queer Drone Freedom Ensemble, and drumming duties with Rose Elinor Dougall (and more recently with The Waeve). For much of the latter years of that period though, as he explained onstage last night, he was beset with writers block, which only lifted when his father passed away. He’s back writing songs again now, with a new EP on it’s way shortly, and this was intimate gig was the first opportunity to play some of those songs, as well as highlights from his extensive back catalogue and the odd cover.

Support came from M. Butterfly, Unholy Jo (who was responsible for encouraging Thomas to play live again) and 3D Jesus.

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This week, avant folk quartet The New Eves released their new double A side single Original Sin / Mother. To celebrate they played a launch party at the Green Door Store, supported by DLD (who have been on my list to catch for a while, and didn’t disappoint) and not-so-local Borough Council.

For the uninitiated, The New Eves are as much a band as they are a feminist manifesto – gigs start with a spoken word piece received in hushed tones, and each member takes on multiple roles – playing different instruments ranging from guitar / bass / drums as you’d expect at the Green Door store, to strings, flute, and bass harmonica – all of which might be a bit much if they didn’t have the tunes to match. Which of course they do. Expect to hear a lot more from the New Eves.

(click pics to view large)