It’s probably best to start by noting that The Greys isn’t actually a proper music venue at all, it’s a pub. And a rather good one at that. No trendy decor or sofas to be found here, it's your proper old style cosy drinkers pub, with a friendly folk club type atmosphere and people aged 18 through to 60 happily mingling about. There’s no hope of getting a stool or table though as the place is rammed full. Tonight’s all acoustic evening is now a regular monthly event here at The Greys, where they pick the cream of local musical talent and get them to play an intimate acoustic set in the pub. Good idea if you ask me. It's also worth saying that there isn’t actually a stage here either, its more of a raised area in the corner in front of the fire place where they set up the mic’s for the performers.
First up to the mic, armed only with his acoustic guitar is Matt Eaton, who by day runs Brighton’s famous Hanbury Ballroom, and by night is the singer/guitarist in up and coming band Actress Hands Tonight he plays an interesting mixture of his own songs, Actress Hands songs and a couple of covers, the most memorable being ‘Daydream Lover’ by a certain Mariah Carey which sounds surprisingly good played acoustically, despite as Matt says “unfortunately I don’t quite have the vocal range of Mariah”. One of his own numbers ‘Boys Need Jazz’ proves to be very catchy and the normally electric Actress Hands tunes ‘Snack Horse’ and ‘Everybody’s Got To Fall Into Line’ sound just as good played solo and acoustic. The set ends with an amusing untitled song about the strange subject of flying planes and riding camels, which gets a good laugh from the crowd. So a brilliant and entertaining set from Matt Eaton then, he should do this acoustic business more often.
Next up is Simon, of local band Villareal and also head honcho of the monthly band night The Cable Club at the Pressure Point. He runs through an enjoyable half hour of songs that are mainly taken from Villareal’s forthcoming album ‘Blue Snakes’, the standout track being the slow strum of ‘Seahorses’. On the evidence of tonight’s set it would be well worth checking Simon out with the full band. Good stuff.
By now the place is really crammed full as Tom and Alex White, the brothers at the core of the Electric Soft Parade, amble up and take their places at the mic’s. They’re both unshaven and look a bit worse for wear, and quite rightly so after being on tour for the past month with their other band Brakes. Despite this they always look like they’re enjoying themselves once they’re up on stage.
Tonight Tom sits stage left with his acoustic guitar, with Alex on the right seated at the keyboard. “Evening Brighton, it's good to be home” says Tom, “yeah even if it is only for one day” adds Alex, before they go straight into the first song ‘So Much Love’, which is set to feature on the bands new EP released in December. At less than two minutes long it’s a real short, sharp way to start things off. ‘Bruxellisation’ follows, with Alex playing second guitar and singing the chorus, it works really well as an acoustic song.
Between songs Alex gets the crowd laughing as he plays around with the array of different sounds on his keyboard “shall we try some bagpipes on the next song?” he laughs, while Tom compares playing an acoustic set as feeling a bit like Alanis Morisette.
The two brothers make a really good live duo and complement each other well, a perfect example being on the brilliant new song ‘Misunderstanding’ when they share the vocals and guitar parts. It’s classic Soft Parade stuff. Older song ‘Silent To The Dark’ as usual gets the best reception of the night, and is the only song they play off their debut record ‘Holes In The Wall’. The version played is more akin to the album version although cut much shorter in length. ‘American Adventure’ album track ‘Lose Yr Frown’ gets a run through while ‘Wrongest Thing in Town’ comes across even more Beatles like when played acoustically.
Throughout the set Alex seems to struggle to keep his guitar in tune “I’m borrowing Eamon from Brakes’ guitar tonight, no wonder the thing wont stay in tune” he smiles. A superb cover of the Teenage Fanclub song ‘I Don’t Want Control Of You’ is then done brilliantly in which they even manage to pull off the great vocal harmonies of the original, despite Tom messing up the guitar solo. Not that it matters though as the song's perfect in every other way. For the final song they’re joined by Matt Eaton to sing with them on a new song that according to Tom is a verse from an old Soft Parade b-side and the chorus from an old Brighter Lunch tune. They didn’t give the song a name but it would certainly sound good if ever it was recorded, and it got a big cheer when the band say their goodnights and go to the bar for a well earned drink.
As an overall set then it was highly enjoyable and great to hear some of the Electric Soft Parade songs done acoustically. I just wish I could have a recording so I could listen again. So whatever you do, be sure to go and check out the band on their forthcoming UK tour, as whether it's playing acoustic or electric with the full band, you can't fail to enjoy and be won over by Tom and Alex’s genuine enthusiasm for the music they’re making. Ace.
Tom & Alex played: So Much Love, Bruxellisation, Elliott Smith cover, 2 new songs, Lose Yr Frown, Life In The Backseat, Misunderstanding, Wrongest Thing In Town, Silent To The Dark, Chaos, I Don’t Want Control Of You (Teenage Fanclub cover) ESP/Brighter Lunch mix (with Matt Eaton)
From The Greys website Taking time out to regroup and work on new material (I've been told that there are four albums worth of songs waiting to be released!?!) Electric Soft Parade re-emerged on to the Brighton scene this year with two fantastic headline shows and a headline at Brighton Live in October. Sporting Matt Priest (formerly of acclaimed popsters Dodgy) on drums the band are at their dynamic best and it looks set that they might be heading for the top once more!
I've been hassling them for an acoustic set for a while now. Alex said "oh yeah, The Greys... We didn't think you guys would be into what we do". Matt from Actress Hands said, "You gotta get them to do an acoustic set at your pub... When Tom and Alex play as a duo it is amazing!" This will sell out fast!
With Villa Real & Matt Eaton (of Actress Hands)