When I knew I was going to Brighton for work, I knew I had to fit some play time in amongst it. So I made it my business to see a gig, as you do. But in my case it had to be a Brighton band and there are no shortage of them! Stars and Sons were the ones that did fit the bill and so I made a few arrangements to meet this delightful, happy band and check out their album launch at The Prince Albert.
An overwhelming charge of “I didn’t expect to like this so much” washed over me as I showed off my best awkward/foolish dance moves in the middle of a crowd of Brighton-ians. Their song ‘If It’s Good For Me’, is a highly addictive piano pop fueled tune that you quickly get the hang of, lyrics-wise …”I’ll get a business degree, I’ll settle down on my knees, yeah you can smell the potpourri, if it’s good for me” Adorned with light cables and orange boiler suits, the boys brought in menacingly gleeful tunage. ‘In The Ocean’ was another lovely clap in time song that is designed to make you move. And ‘Drop and Roll’ is a surprisingly beautiful song that really caught me unawares…’I’ll drop and I’ll roll till I don’t feel the cold’. It’s a wonderfully composed track that encompasses a generous helping of ethereal harmonies, 90’s drum beats, xylophonic euphoria (that’s right, I just invented the word xylophonic), with an under current of dirty grungey bass. Yum.
Despite the minor microphone issues (the issue being the microphone swinging away from the lead singer while he was trying to sing into it) the night was a fantastic one. There definitely was a lot of love in the room for this band. Brighton’s music community is a very encouraging and supportive one, and it was apparent on this occasion. There was no need to deploy the Scottish “bolt and run he’s got a knife” tactic. I wasn’t in Kansas any more. This was like a musical utopia. The band and audience were one. Everyone was dancing, drinking, flirting, laughing and all round simply having a good time. It was AMAZING.
I even had the good fortune to be introduced to the band afterwards by their manager Julian Deane of Xtra Mile Recordings (also the manager of Scotland’s The Xcerts). Wow, I’m liking my brackets these days! Anyway, the boys were lovely but I gathered they would be from their music.
If you are like me and don’t limit yourself to the music that is out in the world then you are very likely to come across something special. This music is for everyone. It is quite simply GOOD time music. The kind you can listen to when you are getting ready for work in the morning, you can even listen to it when you’re home from work, or driving the car, or wrestling, or getting ready to go on a night out, or dancing, running, partying, entertaining, building a time machine, OR flying a magic carpet!! You can even sit down and not do anything and just listen to it – ANYTHING ANY TIME music. You’ll feel so much better for it. I promise.