Piranhas 4: New Year’s Eve eve gig – for people who don’t like NYE! It’s going to be a corker I reckon. And with three top bands on the line up, it was certainly way better than the post Boxing day slump.
The Piranhas 4 – scroll down for some video and Unorfadox
The Piranhas formed in 1977, and were originally part of the Brighton punk scene, first coming to prominence when DJ John Peel started playing their single “I Don’t Want My Body” on his BBC Radio 1 programme, but achieved their biggest success with their cover version of the South African kwela song “Tom Hark”. Great to see this band live again in Brighton.
The Piranhas 4 – The Band
The line up consist of:
Bob Grover, guitar and vox
Piranhas 4 – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Gary Browne, guitar vox
Piranhas 4 – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Stu Wagstaff on bass
( Sorry Stu. It was so dark on your section of the stage and I couldn’t get a clear shot, next time! Pic from Concorde 2)
Piranhas 4 – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Bon Bessom, sax
Piranhas 4 – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Ken Brotherston, drums
Piranhas 4 – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
And there you have it – the line up! I had first met Bob at an intimate gig at the Montpelier with the line up from that time, a few years ago now. Then again at Undercover Festival in Brighton where we shared a beer or two. More recently they were a superb choice as guests of The Damned at Concorde 2. Always a delight to talk to and equally delightful to watch him and his band play.
Piranhas 4 – The Set
Piranhas 4 – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
Time was short tonight and Bob had initial problems with his guitar connections which was quickly sorted out. It was a strong set tonight covering the Piranhas and Piranhas 4 catalogue of material.
The set list was made up as follows with Saxophone and Coloured Music. Bob then took the sold out Prince Albert crowd on a journey through life itself with some hilarious moments and anecdotes all mingled in with some fine music. Jilly, Happy Families, Virginity and the sublime I Don’t Want My Body. Their music and those wicked lyrics are great fun and, dear reader, so is going to see them play live. Whatever is going on in the world, you will forget about it all after a few minutes in the company of these guys. Your foot will start tapping to the Ska and Punk influenced set.
Piranhas 4 – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
The band sounded great tonight, they always do. The intimate setting of The Prince Albert tonight felt just right. The crowd were up for a New Years Eve Eve party and the Piranhas 4 did not disappoint. These days the band seem to be putting in a few gigs around Brighton and the surrounding areas. They seemed relaxed and content to be able to play in front of a sold out audience tonight for the love of the music, their music.
Piranhas 4 – photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
The set continued and included Fiddlin, Easy Come and Pink Elephants. A super selection of songs that was massaging the crowd. Some fine voices joining in, well done Brighton! Cheap N Nasty and Beaten Up were in there. Love Getting Beaten Up, a top tune. A quick look at the watch and the end was fast approaching.
Tom Hark
Everyone loves Tom Hark. People probably know The Piranhas mostly for that 1980 UK Top 10 hit Tom Hark. Ken hit up the drums and Bon lit up the venue with her Sax playing (lovely to meet you at last) – here it is Tom Hark! The crowd loved this as Bob and the band took us through the penultimate track tonight. It is always a delight to hear this live, a wonderful rendition tonight that pleased everyone. This had been an instrumental hit in 1958 for Elias & His Zig Zag Jive Flutes, and had already been covered in a ska style by Millie Small and by Georgie Fame. But did you know that Pete Waterman was on executive production duties? This had people humming it, whistling it and singing it on their way home.
A Video
Live – I Dont Want My Body
They do what they do so well. They perform as I say with a love of the music and they will put a smile on your face. Can it get better than that? Thank you Piranhas 4, I really enjoyed that.
Keep up with Piranhas 4 on their Facebook page.
Unorfadox…
There were three bands playing tonight. The middle set came from Unorfadox, or UFX.
UNORFADOX came to be in the Summer of 1976, when Brian Jardine (Lead Vocals) met Ray Amos (Bass) whilst working for an oil research company in Keston, Bromley. Brian introduced Ray to old school friend Pete Hayward (Lead Guitar) and so UNORFADOX was formed along with Ray’s friend Andy Elphick on drums.
Influences in music came from far and wide and included bands such as Dr Feelgood, Budgie, Split Enz and the Punk and New Wave movement. After a couple of years gigging around the south east of London in pubs and clubs and anywhere they could play including the notorious Roxy Club and Ronnie Scotts, the band just amicably fizzled out leaving unfinished business!
They are back, gigging and recording.
Unorfadox: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
This was a lively set. I had not heard of these guys before, but obviously by the size of the crowd they attracted I was in the minority! I am pretty sure I recognised a couple of songs from this very strong set. From scouting around, as I do as I was unable to find a set list to look at. It would appear that this fine outfit didn’t actually have anything released back in time. I read that they did get into a recording studio and put down some demos. The songs on that demo file were listed as Disappear, At The Roxy, Hard On My Heels and I’m A Loner.
Unorfadox: photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex
I can confirm dear reader that Unorfadox were pretty damned good. They put up a great sound. Mix in some really strong guitar playing, some fabulous rhythm and bass and a great front man with a great vocal range, you are going to have a blast! Worth going back to see these guys and find out a bit more. There is a warming, welcoming punk/Dr Feelgood vibe going on here which is a joy to listen to. It is all brilliantly presented.
The Set…
Thank you Terry! He answered the call re the set list – so here it is – Soiree, Faded Star, The Roxy, Low Hanging Moon, Generation Beat, I’m a Loner, Little Universe, Suicide Mind and Silent Hurricane. I had linked a couple of songs from the demo recordings, now the list is complete, giving us the full set list for the fab forty minute set. Thank you!
These fine guys have two EPS that you can download for free, yes thats right – for free! Just head over to the website. A new album is approaching completion, as the art work is being finalised
Grab a copy: dandelion wind ep and unorfadox ep
My advice – go check them out, they have a facebook page and are on the WWW.
Plague UK…
Now, Dear Reader, as this page is getting longer I have given the Plague UK guys their own page. Thoughtful huh? We have words, exclusive pics and some video, Catch up on their super lively set here on Scene Sussex.
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Great set from the piranhas.. thoroughly enjoyable evening. Bob, Gary and the band spot on
Thanks for your comments. Totally agree, The Piranhas were on top form again. Always so much fun to see them play live. The whole evening was super. Three great bands, including Plague UK and Unorfadox with The Piranhas came together to put on an evening of top live music across different genres.