Duke of York’s Cinema, Brighton

After two hours and two mediocre bands, a collective restlessness is spreading like the plague around the cinema and a modestly-sized audience glance at watches, shifting noiselessly in their seats. Tonight’s support acts Kelley Stoltz and Blitzen Trapper outstay their welcome with drawn-out sets.

So, despite a ridiculous wait for our heroes to emerge from the backstage area, those usually affable Two Gallants aren’t apologetic. Or indeed all that chatty. But, in their defence, opening number The Hand That Held Me Down is delivered with crowd-silencing panache. What follows is a balanced concoction of highlights from their new self-titled album, including Despite What You’ve Been Told, alongside firm sing-along favourites like Las Cruces Jail and Steady Rollin’. As the house lights dip, singer and guitarist Adam Stephens flicks on a desk lamp with his foot, positioning it upwards from the floor.

This San Franciscan duo have come a long way since the last time I saw them, earnestly playing to a dingy Southampton pub. Now, their superior equipment (and drummer Tyson Vogel’s expensive-looking watch) speaks volumes about their numerous successes, commercial or otherwise. But, with these new acquisitions comes an intuitive mastery of their craft. Highlights from The Throes and What the Toll Tells albums are so rich and refined it’s impossible to do anything other than gawp while they play and clap fervently when they’re not. The set is laced with bluesy gems; Adam’s guitar is finger-picked lovingly, its notes resonating warmly around the building’s high ceiling, sometimes accompanied by pensive harmonica. Tyson’s low-sitting drum kit is pounded into next year, chaotic but rhythmic fills confirming his incredible proficiency.

Unfortunately, such sights and sounds were somewhat tainted by overzealous teenagers shouting and getting out of their seats. The uniqueness of tonight’s performance is lost to ignorance, frustrating for those of us genuinely excited at the prospect of such an event. Another criticism is that the cinema’s visual capacity wasn’t properly employed: Where were the projections, silhouetted performers and outrageous light show? Admittedly, Stephen’s use of desk-lamp was a nicely spontaneous touch, but I can’t help feeling slightly short-changed by the venue.

This evening, Two Gallants confirmed that they are more than worthy of the glowing accolades bestowed on them by the media. If the success of this band continues at this rate, pretty soon they’ll be folk heroes.

Words by Matthew Harfield