The Fiddlers Elbow, Brighton
Brighton: Clash of Titans at The Fiddlers Elbow
Sunday 29 August. The Fiddlers Elbow, Brighton.
Young Francis HI FI and Top Left Club
Fiddler’s Elbow
11 BOYCE’S STREET, BRIGHTON,
EAST SUSSEX, BN1 1AN
Fiddler’s Elbow
A Brighton staple when it comes to Guinness, the Fiddler’s Elbow is an Irish pub known for hearty fare, cracking prices and more than sprightly Summer street parties – as in tonight!
While a cosy little boozer and one of Brighton’s smaller pubs, what the Fiddler’s lacks in size it makes up for in atmosphere and tradition. Boasting a central island bar surrounding by emerald green booths, the Fiddler’s Elbow is adorned in vintage trinkets with so much retro and all those dusty class bottles. Its a fabulous pub. Did I mention they do a great Guinness? They do, and it is served lovingly, and it is drunk with almost as much love and attention!
The Fiddlers Elbow, Brighton
The Weekend Starts HERE! on a Sunday!!
Well dear reader as the sun started to set on the last of the scooters from the Mod weekend, the many Mod weekend events had come to a close and folk streamed back up to Brighton Station. There was music, loud music, this was punk! This was rock and it was loud! Oh yes, The Fiddlers Elbow had put on some live music. Events had started at midday and were scheduled to run through to midnight. Sadly I could only pop in and out as I was engaged elsewhere – but caught two of the loudest bands this side of London and they were playing, and it was FREE!
Clash of Titans – part 1
YOUNG FRANCIS HI FI
I have been luck yo see these guys a few times, firstly as Young Francis as a one man punk band, but now he has a full band behind him. The sound is immense and satisfying. They describe themselves now as Bubblegum rock!
The Band
Young Francis – Guitar + Vox
Jimi Dymond – Guitar + Back Ups
Mac Daddy – Bass + Hand Claps
Danny Joe Handsome – Drums
Young Francis HI FI – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
The guys took to the small stage and fired up.
Young Francis HI FI – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Young Francis was born in Germany and learned punk rock by watching Ramones videos on TV. He was a true one man outfit playing guitar by hand, drums by foot and singing by mouth. No effects, no pedals, no loops, no tricks. From 2016-2019, Young Francis played as a One Man Punk Band, playing DIY Lo Fi shows and putting out trash records.
Young Francis HI FI – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Young Francis has opened shows for many, many bands including NOBUNNY, The Flaming Sideburns, Baby Shakes, Guitar Wolf, The Schizophonics, Bob Log III, Dead Elvis & His One Man Grave, UK Subs, Colleen Green, Tall Juan, Sham 69, The Cavemen and a lot more. I think I have been to a good few of those shows armed with a camera.
Young Francis HI FI – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Young Francis used to sing 2 minute songs about girls and hanging out a la Ramones Style. He still does that – but now has a full on band behind him increasing the audio firepower considerably! Its an awesome, powerful sound, and it sounded great outside!
Young Francis HI FI – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
They have grown, as has their reputation, due to both their on stage energy (not quite as riotous perhaps as Rotten Foxes) and their distinctive sound that infuses fiery punked up anthems and melodies with twists of far-flung corners of the USA punk flavours. The fabulous Young Francis is still there, but with the musical muscle provided from the band, they created a storm on a hot sunny afternoon!
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- Young Francis HI FI – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
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- Young Francis HI FI – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
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- Young Francis HI FI – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
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- Young Francis HI FI – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
(Click on photo to enlarge)
The songs played on this lazy Sunday afternoon is an incredibly entertaining tight set: Julia, Gimme A Kiss, I Want You To Know, Jenny, Brain Dead, Bad Attitude, Dance If You Want, Do You Like Good Music, I Wanna Hold Ya, Short Hair Girl, Girls Like You and 101. A perfect 40 mins set of in your face rock and roll delivered in style.
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- Young Francis HI FI – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
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- Young Francis HI FI – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
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- Young Francis HI FI – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
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- Young Francis HI FI – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Keep in touch with the band and catch them live! They are on Facebook here.
Clash of Titans part 2:
TOP LEFT CLUB (TLC)
Top Left Club: photo by Ian Bourn
The Band
Johnny – Bass + Vox
Tim – Drums
Jimi – Keys + Vox
Mac – Guitar + Vox
Top Left Club: photo by Ian Bourn
Top Left Club: photo by Ian Bourn
I had seen these guys whilst filming a live set at Concorde 2. It was only their second gig and they blew us all off our damn feet!
Top Left Club: photo by Ian Bourn
The look these guys have is unique to say the least! Full on Shell Suits and wrap around reflector shades. They will get attention.
Top Left Club: photo by Ian Bourn
The sound put up by these guys is heavy and loud. I actually cant put a “sounds like” tag on this sound they make. Its a bloody decent racket though! You may recognise some of the faces. This synth punk band from Brighton is made up of members from Rotten Foxes, Young Francis HI FI and and Skinny Milk! Now there is a pedigree you seriously cannot argue with. These guys know their stuff and are damn good at playing it! I have been lucky to have known Johnny and Tim for a good while and have followed them and photo’d them since their early days as Skinny Milk.
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- Top Left Club: photo by Ian Bourn
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- Top Left Club: photo by Ian Bourn
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- Top Left Club: photo by Ian Bourn
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- Top Left Club: photo by Ian Bourn
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Having formed in the depths of lockdown, the outfit were ready to play a proper live set. They have been quietly generating a considerable interest within the local scene. As I say they recently performed a live filmed recorded set, and have steadily been releasing their music and demos through Soundcloud. They have now released an album, a stunning shaker of a debut album ‘Shoulders at 90’.
Top Left Club: photo by Ian Bourn
They put on a good hour set for us. If you happen to live with a 50 mile radius of The Fiddlers Elbow, you may have heard your windows rattle. Top Left Club take no prisoners! Somebody thought it was a good idea to fire up a smoke machine as the band fired up their intro. The first section contained gems such as RIP, Rollin, and ICU.
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- Top Left Club: photo by Ian Bourn
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- Top Left Club: photo by Ian Bourn
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- Top Left Club: photo by Ian Bourn
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- Top Left Club: photo by Ian Bourn
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Back to the set! The street by now had really filled up and there was dancing in the street! Brilliant, a terrific atmosphere was blossoming. Teddy Biscuits, Slugs, Shark Eye were included and Top Left Club closed down the proceedings with Tie Me Down and Demons. You must go see this new band as they unfurl their flag, or T Shirt across the city. You get the power from the bass, guitars and drums and then you have Jimmi on keyboards punching through and searing into your ear drums. It is quite an experience, and I feel these guys have captured something new and unique.
Well done to both bands, Young Francis HI FI and Top Left Club.. Two extraordinary live sets of music that entertained us. Clash of Titans? Well it was a dead heat. Loved them both. The two local bands deserve your time, go check them out and say hi.
Top Left Club are on Facebook here.
And Finally
Well done to the staff of The Fiddlers Elbow – you put on a great day out and some tremendous live music. Thank you! Be in for a Guinness when my hearing recovers! Also the sound guys did a great job in producing a great sound mix.
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