NME Radar Tour - Brighton Events & News Magazine

With Yes Giantess, Local Natives, Marina & the Diamonds, and Golden Silvers – Concorde 2, 14th October 2009

Could NME have chosen four more talented and distinctive newly emerging bands for the NME Radar Tour? Seems unlikely – good work NME. The four bands gracing the Concorde2 stage were each perfectly original, and dissimilar to each other, yet fitted together perfectly.

Opening the night were Boston electro-kids Yes Giantess; a delightfully poppy quartet synthing their way into the hearts of Brighton’s new music loving crowd. Half way through their opening song and we’re all tapping our feet to the beats like we’ve been listening to Yes Giantess all our lives. There’s not even a smidgen of the exhaustion they must all be feeling on this, the final date of the extensive tour.

Following were Local Natives, a Los Angeles group whose name has been whispered around the new music scene for a fair few months now. On their Myspace they describe their music as ‘indie rock jungle’ – which appears to roughly translate as harmonising multi-instrumentalist pop-rock moustache demons. Between them, they have at least three marvellous moustaches (I checked – they’re real), one blinding beard, two percussionists, a host of instrumental talents and the occasional four part harmony that will blow your mind. The popular track “Airplanes” from EP “Gorilla Manor” exemplifies their layered musical style, building constantly throughout the song. Sharp and precise, Local Natives have a clean professionalism that will clearly get them far. As well as a Talking Heads cover, during their closing song “Sun Hands” they were joined onstage by Yes Giantess for a big stage finale.

The undeniable highlight of the night was third act Marina & the Diamonds. Illness caused Marina to pull out of a handful of dates prior to the Brighton gig, but she was, thankfully, back to full health. Her Diamonds begun the opening song without her, and Marina stalked dramatically on stage dressed in a black cat suit and grey animal-esque hooded number. The band worked their way through “The Crown Jewels EP”, including “Seventeen” and ultimate favourite “I Am Not a Robot”. Moving onto the keyboard during “Obsessions”, Marina looked somehow even more at home than standing behind the microphone. Hidden behind her instrument it was clear how passionate she is about her music, and how much talent she has. Her original, likeable style and outstanding voice instantly won over the crowd. She was simply spellbinding.

Final headlining act Golden Silvers made a name for themselves with indie-dance hit “True Romance”, and they played it exceptionally live. Unfortunately their set was a little overshadowed by their predecessors. However, they provided a fitting end to an extraordinary evening of music. Keep a keen eye on all four of these bands, they’re going far.

Yes Giantess