Electric Six: Dick Valentine – live in Lewes: Pic by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex.
Electric Six
Electric Six is a six-piece American band from Detroit, Michigan. Their style has been described as a brand of rock music infused with elements of “garage, disco, punk rock, new wave, and metal.” The band met recognition in 2003 with the singles “Danger! High Voltage” and “Gay Bar”, and subsequently released 14 full-length albums, two rarities albums, and a live album. Not bad going eh!
Fairly regular visitors to the south coast, I hadn’t seen them live. I knew the singles of course, who didn’t! Danger! High Voltage and the mighty Gay Bar. Two songs that burst onto the UK charts like a rocking good breath of fresh air, and I was DJ’ing in Brighton and remember how well those songs were received on a dance floor.
The Band
details from Facebook page, looks to be up to date
Dick Valentine – Vocals,
Da Ve – Guitar,
Johnny Na$hinal – Guitar,
Tait Nucleus? – Keyboard
Rob Lower – Bass
Electric Six: Dick Valentine – live in Lewes: Pic by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex.
The band came out to a nicely warmed up crowd – good job Scare Taxi! The six-piece kept fans waiting for a short while as we were treated to a video wall of various music videos.
Electric Six live in Lewes: Pic by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex.
At around 9.45pm, the lights dim.
Electric Six live in Lewes: Pic by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex.
The band started up and it seemed as if people wanted to get as close as they possibly could. They wanted to get as close to the band and their the rock and roll as possible!
Electric Six live in Lewes: Pic by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex.
Each member of the band seem to emit their own electricity and energy. High Voltage!
Electric Six live in Lewes: Pic by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex.
Sadly the stage was a little cramped for all six to have their own stage space and keys were hidden behind a stack of Marshalls.
Electric Six live in Lewes: Pic by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex.
Hopefully when they return they will have a bit more room to manoeuvre!
The Set
From such a huge back catalogue, And I confess here I did not know all the songs played but as I recall we had Bride of the Devil, Rock’n’roll Evacuation, Slow Motion Man, How Dare You? All the songs were brilliantly executed and we sometime had hilarious interludes from Dick.
My spidey sense started tingling – I sensed it, the crowd sensed it. I moved just in time as the harmonic guitar started, the drum roll, first lines – it was Gay Bar. The Con Club crowd lost it! The venue was jumping higher than I have ever seen it before, and the crowd showing off their moves, and yes, which included a great deal of pushing each other, shoving each other and falling onto the stage. It was great to hear the song at some massive volume played live, rather than the dance floor speakers I was used to. The music cut out as one over enthusiastic crowd member climbed onto the stage and possibly pulled out a cable. Rock and Rooooooll!
Electric Six live in Lewes: Pic by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex.
I would have loved to hear a cover or two, they do a mean cover of Radio Ga Ga! Another song I did recognise was ‘Down at McDonaldz’. This song showed potentially what was to come later! This was a song that had the Con Club audience jumping and waving their hands. As Electric Six go on, the crowd seemingly kicks up their energy. Aslo in the set we had Improper Dancing/(Who The Hell Just) Called My Phone?
Electric Six live in Lewes: Pic by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex.
Danger! High Voltage closed proceedings on an all time high mixed in with I Buy The Drugs. The crowd seemed fully charged and unleashed their energy on each other and dancing through the final numbers of the set.
Electric Six live in Lewes: Pic by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex.
A brief break saw the band return to a tumultuous cheer, and well deserved if I may say so. Their music combines those known biting guitar riffs and grooves, there is undoubtedly a twang of US country style in there, and then you get the slap round the face pumping drums and bass grooves of disco. Its mixed up and there is genuinely something for everyone tonight. Final song was Dance Commander – perfect!
Electric Six are indeed well-seasoned showmen, and they have a swagger all their own, and, if you missed this show they are coming back to play a more familiar venue for them – Concorde 2! A date for the diary then, 29 November 2019.
Electric Six are on the WWW
And a huge thanks to top Brighton promotion team at We Love The Big Blue Shed:
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