Last Monday, Dog in the Snow released their new single Factory and next Monday The New Union release their new single Now. Last weekend both bands played live, so we went along with our camera (as usual click to view large):
This week Nordic Giants head out on tour with Irish post rock band God is an Astronaut, where they play their first Brighton gig since the launch of their awesome Build Seas / Dismantle Suns double EP last October. The tour takes in Glasgow, Leeds, Nottingham and Birmingham before arriving in Brighton next Sunday 16th March, where they play The Haunt.
A few weeks later the band are heading up to London to play one of their most important gigs yet headlining Cargo on 1st May.
.
Next month, Esben & The Witch release a split 12″ with Thought Forms on Invada records. It was premiered a couple of weeks ago on Stereogum, but now the stream is available for us to share too. The release of No Dog on 7th April comes in advance of the band heading into the studio in the summer with the legendary Steve Albini for an album pencilled in for autumn this year. More news on that as we hear of it, but in the meantime, here’s the audio of No Dog:
Gearing up for their third album Constellations due this spring, Moulettes are hitting the road for their first tour of 2014, playing at The Haunt on 24th April courtesy of Love Thy Neighbour. We were fans of the bands unique take on folk music for years before we even started the blog, and it’s always a joy to see them live. Their new album promises to be rather star studded, with contributions from members of the Unthanks and the Mystery Jets, as well as Herbie Flowers (famous for the legendary bassline on Walk on the Wild Side, as well as playing on countless other records) and Arthur ‘God of Hellfire’ Brown who both live locally. Arthur Brown has joined the band many times on stage, and is also playing at the Haunt two nights later, so who knows what treats we have to expect.
There’s also more news from Love Thy Neighbour, this time from the record company side of their activities rather than their promotions. Us Baby Bear Bones, whose What Starts With a U Ends With an I came out on the label last summer, have been in the studio working on their new EP. Details are scant at the moment but a YouTube video of what they’ve been up to has been posted on their Facebook page:
There are two great gigs to choose from tonight (Tuesday 4th March)
Time for T and the Common Tongues join forces at the Green Door Store,
Check out Tornado from the last Time for T EP here
…and at the Albert, Stark have taken a support slot with Brighton rockers Müde to launch their new EP
Really enjoying this new track from this young dynamic and bluesy band
On the 9th of April at the Komedia, Brighton’s Laish plays support as Melting Vinyl bring Simone Felice to town as part of his current UK tour promoting his new album Strangers.
Simone is known for his unique folk music, and Laish should be the perfect complement to the main act. Tickets are on sale now for £12 + bf.
Also coming up is a new single from electronica act Anneka. So far, Big Bad Change is only out there as a live video on YouTube, but it’s getting a proper release later in the month, which we’ll give you more details about as we hear about them:
Today Blood Red Shoes release their fourth album Blood Red Shoes on Jazz Life records. Recorded in Berlin by the band themselves without outside help from producers or any other musicians, and the sound they create is incredible for just two people. Deliberately moving back to a rougher sound after the more produced In Time To Voices, Blood Red Shoes is an album that revels in the unadulterated joy of rock. You can stream the album over on the band’s website, where you can also read details of their mammoth upcoming tour. The hometown date is at the Concorde 2 on 25th April.
Here’s a first for Brighton Music Blog – our first Soundcloud Exclusive. Bentcousin have sent over their brand new track You Make Me Feel So Young – a collaboration with LL & The D’s from America who met the band through the social side of Soundcloud. It’s classic Bentcousin – vocals which on first listen might seem a bit innocent but are actually a bit cheeky. Bentcousin’s next Brighton gig is on the 11th April at The Hope.
Fear of Men have announced the first single from their upcoming album Loom. Luna will be released on a 7″ flexi disc on 7th April on Art is Hard, preceding the album which is out on 21st April on Kanine Records (with a special edition being released for Record Store Day on 19th April).
Fear of Men play a launch party for the album at the Dome Studio Theatre on 15th April before playing some more gigs in London and New York.
We’ve just had an email drop into the Brighton Music Blog in box with the video for Dog In The Snow‘s upcoming single Factory. The video was mostly shot along the south coast by Eleanor Hardwick and tells a strange tale involving mysterious crystals and increasingly less appealing lunch. The single is out on 3rd March, and the band play at the Prince Albert on 6th March supported by Foreign Skin and Myyths.
Brighton Unsigned launched their latest issue with a gig at the Hope featuring their cover stars yourgardenday, and three other up-and-coming acts. Another excellent night’s entertainment, emphasising the vast musical talent that exists in Brighton.
First up was a young guy called Mortie Pockett, who hails from Storrington but is now a local town player. His sound felt like a throwback to Elvis in his Sun Sessions period, strong rhythmic strumming and a twang-infused vocal style over some nice rocking tunes.
Next up were the startlingly youthful looking but exceptionally talented Stark, with a harder powerful sound that took us out of 1950s rockabilly into a late 60s bluesy heavy rock vibe, akin to Led Zeppelin. All three members of Stark were incredibly impressive, and the sound whilst rocking was also soulful and full of great tunes. They ended their set with a stunning and original version of Dylan’s Crash on the Levee. There’s an EP being launched at the Prince Albert on 4th March which comes highly recommended.
Then came the cover stars yourgardenday with their first full band set of the year, following last year’s successful launch of the Flat Stream EP. Another favourite of this blog, Robin Coward has a bunch of really strong songs which are highly memorable and stand out form the crowd. Robin can be heard every week at one of the open mic spots he runs around town, but in a full band setting songs like the opener Something in the Music, sons of a Gun and the beautiful closer Spring is Springing can be heard as they were intended. Pop classics every one.
Final band Unsung Lilly are out-of-towners, reflecting Brighton Unsigned magazine’s desire to spread a little more widely and cover more of the talent across the south east. They’re a big loud band with a powerful pop sound and oodles of talent.
Photographs and word by Jon Southcoasting
