Brighton's best...
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American Music Club...
review To be perfectly honest, I didn't really wanna go to this show. I was out of town at the time and it meant coming in especially. Although I'd raved about the last American Music Club show, I was sure it would be more of the same. And who the hell were the Trashcan Sinatras? I expected some cliched 80s Scots soul drivel. Man was I in the wrong.I took a mate along but from the second we entered the main hall I hardly spoke to her for the rest of the gig. I was transfixed and embarrasingly enough, swaying! Trashcan Sinatras conjured beautiful torch songs, singer Francis Reader (what is it about Glaswegians called Fran and beautiful melodies?) possessing a voice like moonlit molasses, all dark and dangerous. Wearing a battered suit and scarf he looked like a Paris boho minstrel, but the cold winter outside melted the second he played that sad guitar. My friend was showing early signs of a little crush, but then she always did like romantic indie boys. The recent album 'Weightlifting' had received loads of glowing press and I was wary of the hype. But maybe the fickle UK press were spot on for a change. They found a quick and solid groove, akin to the earlier work of Gomez, and chugged out 9 tracks of blissful poetic ennui. Obvious highlights were a shimmering 'What Women Do To Men' and a swollen 'Weightlifting'. I could feel my heart beating as one with the crowd and knew tonight had been special. So after such a fantastic revelation, could American Music Club really top it? Yeah of course. I was dumb to doubt. Their Marvin Gaye meets Tony Bennett at a Swans gig style does blow my mind, and last year’s comeback show had been odd because they’d seemed cautious with the songs and somewhat nervous of the crowd. But the adulation had pretty much done its magic. The songs were tighter than they'd been in 20 years and the band were on fire. Singer Mark Eitzel in particular was affable and hilarious. Telling us stories about standing at the back of Pretenders gigs (and declining the chance to be bitchy) he lightened the audience after a melancholic start. We were even treated to a mini squall of feedback from Vudi. For me, highlight of the evening was the encore of 'Ladies and Gentlemen' from the recent 'Love Songs For Patriots' album. A voice that dripped positive heartbreak sung out against plaintive guitar and keyboards, a victory cry to the world about making the life you have and the friends you keep worth every second. Eitzel has had his fair share of dramas but the show was one of optimism and relief. Whereas last year's take on 'Another Morning' was a grief-based lament for a departed friend, this time it becomes a joyful chance to seize the day and enjoy it. So there we have it. As American Music club can testify - and they do - time is the healer.
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The Aquarium Theatre Bar
