The Komedia, 7th April
Brighton’s neo-punk duo Blood Red Shoes returned to the coast to headline The Komedia with two hotly-tipped bands in support. XYZ Ambassador James Watts was part of the welcoming committee…
Opening support An Emergency impressed with a sound that’s best summed-up in two words – ‘nice’, and ‘trashy’. The progressive punk rockers’ off-kilter beats and cleverly-interwoven guitar twangs kept the audience’s feet from staying still as they rattled off songs from their forthcoming album ‘Wrecked Angles’. Next up were Southend’s These New Puritans, who were suitably armed with laptops and other gadgets. The four-piece launched into intense big-beat electro rock; tribal grooves and spacey vocals invoked the sensation of a Nineties rave.
The teasing was over; it was time for the main event. Blood Red Shoes were welcomed home with excited screams from the sold out venue as they took to the stage with a blistering version of ‘It’s Getting Boring By The Sea’. But something was wrong: The crowd barely moved and there were technical problems onstage. Regardless, the band played on. Vocalist Laura-Mary Carter, stylishly dressed and effortlessly gorgeous, frantically strummed her Telecaster, while Steven Ansell beat the drums with all his might. Three songs in and the passionate performance inspired a sudden eruption of movement from the crowd; the view of the stage was hindered by a throng of sweaty bodies and occasional crowd-surfer. ”
The show drew to an incendiary close with crowd favourite ‘ADHD’, with one lucky punter playing a cow bell in the mosh pit. As set filled with punchy anthems, knee-jerking beats, and fans singing along to every chorus, this was undoubtedly a huge success. It’s the end of the night; Blood Red Shoes bruised my body and pounded my ears. It most definitely isn’t getting boring by the sea.
Words by James Watts
Photos by David Tatnell
