Brakes

Standing in the UCL student union bar waiting for Brakes to come on I find myself asking the same question I always do before seeing this band......why am I in such a small venue , and why isn't it full?! Aside from myself and my mate there would only appear to be a handful of people here tonight over 'freshers week age', which you may say is understandable as we're in an SU bar, but this gig is open to the general public too....where are they?

Anyway, the guys come on and within 5 minutes have delivered 3 razor edged blasts of genius, "Hi how are you" sends out message to the crowd to stop chatting and watch the fucking band.....this is followed by "Ring-a Ding-Ding" and the scathingly funny "Heard about your band" which causes me to look around confusededly at the end after I seem to be the only person joining in with Eamon's "WHATEVER DUDE!!!" scream at the end......the crowd are warming though....

Although Brakes have a varied and eclectic catalogue of songs to choose from, tonight it's mainly an all out fantastic assult of the heavier stuff from both albums. Stand out track from the new album "Marguerita" is followed by the 30 second blast of "Pick up the phone" which is marginally topped by "Cheney", so good they played it twice, this still takes less than 30 seconds!

Best track tonight though was the Pixiesish quiet, loud, quiet of (sorry lads but you do sound like em sometimes) "I Can't Stand to Stand Beside You" which completely showcases the talent of the band to build a song and draw you into it.

Extremely tight playing coupled with Eamon's enthused committed vocals and inventive songwriting make this performance impossible to ignore for any neutrals here tonight, and gradually the crowd does start to give the band the respect they deserve by dancing and getting into it. No moshpit tonight though, and the usual ritual of chucking a pineapple into the crowd before "Porcupine or Pineapple" is a bit more tame with Tom walking out and handing the fruit to a girl in the crowd!

The gig closes tonight with the full on rock out of B-Side "Huevos Rancheros" ......and they're off back to Brighton.

I'm in a dilemma. Thinking purely selfishly, seeing a band of this calibre playing to a couple of hundred people and stood 6 feet from them is awesome and a fantastic experience, but these guys deserve so much more recognition, record sales.......and money I should imagine......surely it's only a matter of time....

Setlist:

Hi How are You
Ring a Ding Ding
Heard About Your Band
Margarita
Pick Up The Phone
I Can't Stand To Stand Beside You
Cheney x 2
Hold Me In The River
All Nite Disco Party
On Your Side
Beautific Visions
Spring Chicken
Cease And Desist
Jackson
The Most Fun
NY Pie
Huevos