Diary - The Great Escape, Brighton 2010 - Part 3

Previously published on mINtSOUTH.com in May 2010
Words - Suzy Sims
(c) mINtSOUTH.com

DIARY - THE GREAT ESCAPE, BRIGHTON 2010 - PART 3

Ah, Saturdays in Brighton. The busiest day of the festival, plus a herd of confused shoppers trampling you underfoot. Bliss.

The day starts in a confused fashion, with everyone piling downstairs into the Queens Hotel to see the Chapman Family. There’s been a change in the programme however, and we’re about an hour early. Instead mINtSOUTH finds space by a pillar to watch Rachelle Van Zanten’s brazen blues. She’s a Canadian star with plenty of easy confidence and a few stories to tell, including about one song written when she was deported to Sweden after being caught without the correct visas in Swindon. Wiltshire’s loss, clearly.

It was then time to zip along the seafront to Digital, where the Aussie BBQ was taking place. We arrived just when BlueJuice were coming to an end – a shame, as they were energetically sweaty with some sexy bass. Teenagersintokyo were full of deliciously dark disco pop and each band member has their own super magnetism, particularly singer Samantha Lim and icy guitarist Sophie McGinn. I found them captivating. This band was another of my high points of the festival.

They were followed by the spectacular Bridezilla, a band worth checking out for the name alone. I like them even more now that I know their lead singer is called Holiday Sidewinder, a name of total awesomeness. The rest of the band look a little nervous at times, but Sidewinder completely disappears into a romantic, theatrical performance where nothing and no-one can distract her. Bridezilla are a beautiful yet slightly crazy cacophony of sounds.

Being born at St Mary’s Hospital in the heart of Portsmouth gave me the birthright to seek out the FA Cup Final. I end up at the Honey Club, site of many a great gig last year, but oddly left off the location list this time round. I’m briefly joined at my table by a middle-aged man called Patrick, keen to have a drunken chat before continuing his pub crawl. “Where are you from? Why are you here? The Great Escape, what’s that?” I explain as best as I can and he offers his condolences for my choice of football team (and Chelsea hadn’t even scored yet). Anyway, we know how that match ended – not as bad as it could have been. God bless the woodwork, eh.

mINtSOUTH then scooted to Hector’s House for an interview with Detroit Social Club before their gig this evening. They’re running a little late so we arrive just in time to see the soundcheck. Their manager hands us a pair of foam earplugs. It’s going to be a loud night.

The night starts at Pony Pony Run Run downstairs in the Freebutt. There’s something so damn attractive about French electro pop, especially when there’s flashing lights and everyone’s dancing. The band are clearly enjoying themselves, which is always a good sign.

Then it’s onto the fiery furnace that is Hectors House on a Saturday night. It’s boiling and absolutely heaving. We have to squeeze our way to the back where there is some standing space. Detroit Social Club come onstage and as promised, they’re loud, bluesy and hard rocking, with suggestions of a darker, psychedelic side. The band have been highly tipped in recent times from the likes of NME and you can see why; they’re easy on the ear – in a tough kind of way.

The crowd are mainly here to see Band Of Skulls, who are already making serious strides this year. There’s something vey moreish about their garage rock. The band promise to play as many songs as they can from their album, then point out this shouldn’t be too hard; Baby Darling Doll Face Honey is their only one, after all. There are crowdsurfers tumbling all over the place and the waves of heat pulse across the venue as the guitar solos ooze coolness. I Know What I Am, recently lauded by Fearne Cotton of all people, and Death By Diamonds And Pearls go down particularly well. The crowd clamour for more, but unfortunately there’s a curfew so we don’t get it.

Saturday night is party night and so we head for Concorde 2. There’s no queue and it’s surprisingly empty. French electronic act Chateau Marmont are onstage being bleakly atmospheric and quite chilling, and it’s fascinating to listen to. Check out Solar Apex to lose yourself.

Sleigh Bells approach as figures in the mist, then a buzzing bass roars in so loud the glasses rattle off the tables and the floor vibrates so wildly it tickles the soles of your feet. mINtSOUTH gives thanks for the foam earplugs we received earlier. The band are slightly frightening, with an urgent, distorted, highly aggressive and completely in-your-face sound. The sheer power of this band can actually slay small animals within a two mile radius.

After picking up eardrums and smoothing down wind tunnel hair caused by Sleigh Bells’ drums, mINtSOUTH leave the Great Escape. But never fear, we’ll be back next year.


HYPE-O-METER

-The crowd for Delphic was packed – with delegates, critics, and other industry types. The other queue for normal gig-goers was much, much smaller. Overhyped much?
-Fenech-Soler – never heard of them before this weekend, but they made a name for themselves by playing a number of shows

BANDS YOU WOULD TOTALLY SEE BASED ON THEIR NAME ALONE

Bridezilla, Wax Fang, Curry & Coco, Katzenjammer, Is Tropical, Fenech-Soler, Tim and Sam’s Tim and the Sam Band with Tim and Sam, Felix Fables, Ling tosite sigure, Gringo Star, Ghost Bees

NOT SO GREAT ESCAPE

-BBQ at Digital. Huzzah! Unfortunately, before the end of the bands they had run out of everything bar three spoonfuls of potato salad. mINtSOUTH’s stomach was not impressed
-This year there were three levels of entry – normal wristbanders; delegates, who can queue jump but who still have to wait outside if the venue’s busy; and a new guestlist option which guarantees instant entry. Guestlisters are still allowed in if the venue has been one-in-one-out for a few hours. They are still allowed in if various industry experts and music lovers have been stood outside for some time. mINtSOUTH spoke to one peeved delegate whose friends with normal wristbands had been unable to get into at least two venues. When she went into one to assess the situation and see if it was worth everyone sticking around, she noticed a large group of people playing pool and not watching the bands who everyone else was desperate to see. Bastards.

TGE OVERHEARD

“Marina and The Diamonds – all I’m hearing is blah, blah, blah.” Unimpressed punter
“Band Of Skulls, someone told me they’re from New York. Oh, they’re from Southampton? That’s a bit of a difference.” Detroit Social Club during the Skulls’ set

CELEBRITY SPOTTINGS

-Mercury Music Award-winning Jamie Reynolds (Klaxons) hanging around Horatio’s in his role as manager of Cabin Fever
-Chiselled hunk Alex Kapranos (Franz Ferdinand) strolling through The Lanes
-Radio 1’s all-mighty Huw Stephens tweeting and chatting with friends during Warpaint and Egyptian Hip Hop at Horatio’s
-Ross Jarman of The Cribs looking slightly lost in the delegates’ area at The Dome
-The drummer from teenagersintokyo walking past Las Iguanas
-Slow Club dining out at Las Iguanas
-The drummer from Fallout Boy wandering about
-Guy at Pony Pony Run Run who looked just like Alan Rickman as The Sheriff Of Nottingham
-Guy at Band Of Skulls who looked just like the Austin Powers baddie who says: “They’re always after me lucky charms”