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80s Matchbox...
review
I'm in Kensington's cafe perched up high on my favourite pew, surveying the
scene and mulling over Monday's sublime 80s Matchbox gig. 'Spiritwalker' by
The Cult is playing. An unshaven man wearing a zorro mask is shrieking
periodically at customers. He whistles tunelessly at me. I give him a sympathetic
smile. Now people are warbling along to 'Mama Mia'. The world seems bonkers. I
feel like I'm in a Daniel Clowes comic. I look back over my notes from Monday
night and read the following:
It was a windy night in Brighton. The sea was raging a night-time big old
wave party while the tourists weren't looking. Two seagulls were deep in
conversation: "Mummy, what's an 80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster?". "Well dear, it's what
the 5-toes call a group of dark-clothed young men with fire in their bellies
and a rocket up their ass. Believe me child, if I could say 'corruscating' I
would, because they were, but the word gets tangled in my beak". "Why do they
do what they do Mummy?". "Because it makes them feel alive, like we do when we
catch a chip or let rip a big guano dollop on a freshly preened
super-mullet".
I let out a sigh and continue. "Is the 80s Matchbox B-Line Disaster like the
Titanic disaster?" "No dear, much noisier". "The West Pier disaster?". "No
dear, much more important". "Why are most of the crowd wearing black Mummy?".
"Because they are creatures of the night, like the big rats at the back of Preston
Street. But always remember, the Goth is our friend". "How much is a penny
whore Mummy?". "Go to sleep now".
It had all started so well. I arrived as first support act The Rocks were
getting into their stride. With a Strokes-like singer, Blondie-like guitarist and
a fine set of tunes including their "love song" 'Won't Need You When You're
Dead', my boat was floating. The singer was pissed and jumping all over the
speakers, walking along the ledge crooning drunkenly into the faces of the
audience. Castro and Coin-op were good too, though by then I was langourously
lagered, all support-acted out and eagerly anticipating 80s Matchbox.
They burst onto stage with 'Morning Has Broken', the singer disappearing
from sight within the first song, launching straight into the audience on some
kind of spacewalk, the microphone lead his lifeline to the stage. And then he is
back, climbing over the speakers teetering in a 'King of the World' pose
before flicking a 'v' at the audience and stumbling away. He seems possessed, or
just really drunk, but some kinda bug has bitten this boy. They play a
blinding set to a delirious crowd, 'Chicken' and a chugging Agent Orange-like
'Celebrate Your Mother' going down like Timmy Mallet at the Bushes. They're like
The Raveonettes gone BAD. 'Psychosis Safari' rocked to buggery but my tune of
the evening was 'Change Your Guns' (at least that's what it looks like
Rich's writing says on the CD cover) - what a scorcher. Somewhere along the way I
was whipped along with the frenzy of the moment. There was no point taking any
more photos, the darned singer never stood still, so there was nowt else to do
but dance this mess around.
Here's those seagulls again: "Mummy, I like the Concorde 2. As a live venue
it's up there. And I love reading the graffitti in the toilet. There was some
that said 'AVRIL LAVIGNE IS NOT PUNK'!". "Well she's not dear, she's a spotty
Canadian teenager who talks in txt msg lnguage". "I know you're right Ma, but
why does everything have to get so Complicated?". This all made sense at the
time. Now it sounds like the ramblings of a madwoman. I blame 80s Matchbox, my
brain mashed by their Cramps-y guitar psychosis that bled into some kind of
talking seagull fantasy. It seems somehow fitting though, them being a Brighton
band. But then a zorro mask is starting to look appealing. "Mama Mia, here I
go again, my my...".
ps - Timmy Mallet's not gay. Ahh, creative licence...
For more info on Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster see
www.eightiesmatchbox.com and for Concorde 2 gigs see listings on this site or at www.concorde2.co.uk.
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someone said...
A VIP comment randomly selected for your delight:
"Bec, this is just mad... what's going on??"
Said by Samwell on Fri, 14th November 2003.
click
to view the photo  |
about Concorde 2
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Okay, so you may have to walk a bit to reach it... but that just makes it that little bit more exclusive doesn't it! Located along Madeira Drive, the Concorde 2 is a sizeable venue with a huge variety of clubnights and bands on each month. Some top names, some great festivals, World Music... you name it. If you can't find something to pique your interest then you might as well pack your bags and head for Eastbourne... The next Concorde 2 date for your diary:
Monday, 8th September
Jeff Lewis & The Jitters
Click for more info and complete listings for Concorde 2
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The Aquarium Theatre Bar
