Live
FUR + Weird Milk + Beachtape
Komedia, Brighton
August 12 2017
Words/Pictures: Steve Willcox
Having caught Brighton locals FUR back in May at The Great Escape, I had been looking forward to this hometown gig from the band, and with CloseUp Promotions - who know how to bring a night's acts together - helming the Komedia proceedings, this Saturday night was looking good.
First on stage to warm up the room are local BIMM band Beachtape, who Little Indie introduced here 16 months ago. This four-piece have been making waves in the industry playing their grungey-beach sound and a new EP soon to promote, only been together for two years they soon got the crowd going with a great set, with 'Slow' becoming a new personal favourite.
Unfortunately, the sound wasn't acoustically set up for them and a few bass amp problems dampened the set, which was a shame as when I saw them in 2016 at Together The People festival they blew me away. But this is a band with, I feel, a lot more in store for the future.
Next are West London's not at all weird Weird Milk. An unusual alt-pop group combining modern lyrics with 60s Beach Boy harmonies from co-vocalists, Zach Campbell and Alex Griffiths and woozy guitars. Charlie Vaughan on drums seems to be the pilot in this band and alongside Zach, credits as one of the main songwriters. Josh King towers above the rest on bass like a beacon of hope, literally a giant of a man.
'This Close' - their debut single from early last year - and latest single, the dun-drenched trop-pop number All Night', were my favourites of the set, and they had this crowd in the palm of their hand throughout. Tuesday will see them bring tonight's headliners to support them in London at a free entry show at Birthdays - a date for the diaries of Big Smoke gig-goers
Finally, it's time for FUR to fluff themselves up and take to the stage. Starting with 'Eyes' it soon gets this home crowd shaping the dance moves on the floor. Will Murray's melodic singing reminiscent of The Byrds and musically the whole band were a tight ship, relying on great hooks and lyrics which blend with the laid-back 60s pop.
More danceable than the support acts (which brought this band up a notch in my opinion), I think this group will make it through the festival season stronger and tighter than ever. Memorable setlist songs for me were the slow and melancholic ballad 'Not Enough' - their new single - 'Creature', and the slow builder with some great guitar to close, 'One And Twenty'. Going by the energy and musicianship of these guys, I think Weird Milk might just have a hard time coming out on top when they meet again on Tuesday. Can't wait.
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