Die Twice, Fever Rouge, Slag

Music Review: Slag, Fever Rouge and Die Twice at The Hope & Ruin by Alex Hill

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It was pouring down with rain as I walked up the high street to The Hope and Ruin, yet despite the conditions huddles of devoted smokers were lining the pavement outside the venue as I darted inside in search of shelter. It was a packed gig – the lineup consisted of openers Slag and Fever Rouge with Die Twice headlining; all exciting new up and comiong bands in the indie scene. Outside might have been miserable, but inside it was a night of sweaty, attractive young people playing guitars and screaming down microphones. What’s not to like? 

The night kicked off as Slag took the stage. From the name of the band, I’d expected some kind of aggressive hardcore punk band and yet was very pleasantly surprised to hear their mix of shoegaze and indie with dreamy guitar rhythms overlapped by keyboard and intricate guitar melodies played by the captivating frontwoman Amelie as she sang her heartfelt lyrics. While only having one song released, the Brighton based five-piece band already have a defining sound and clear appeal.  

Fever Rouge sounded more punk than Slag, with distorted bass lines, heavy guitar riffs and screeching vocals driving their fast-paced songs that still left room for breaks overlapped by surf-sounding guitar; giving them an interesting and unique sound. The highlight of their set was a breakdown during one of their songs where there was a wailing Van Halen-esque guitar solo accompanied by crazy drumming and the rest of the rhythm section all laying into it together. They definitely set the bar high for Die Twice. 

While by no means blowing away the previous bands, the headliners clearly had the heaviest sound and the highest energy performance – at one point towards the end I was enveloped in the mosh pit which bordered on teeth losing territory. They were yet another band with an extremely diverse sound, some songs had a funky, disco feel as the members danced around the stage. Others, including one of my favorites – ‘Evelyn’ – took a slower pace with the singer using voice effects with an alluring and sensual result. Of course some were also especially heavy, a delight to my ears as I and everyone around me were forced to bob our heads in appreciation. Die Twice sure has some eager fans – as well as creating a fairly scary mosh pit; shouts of “I love you” echoed through the room, and after playing their final song, resounding boos followed and so we were treated to not one but two further songs. 

The performance was brilliant; as well as sounding just like they do on their recorded songs (check their new EP ‘A Beautiful Thing’), They were bounding around the tiny stage and pushing their guitars under the noses of those in the front row to their delight, showing an undeniable stage presence – this is why small, packed gigs are simply the best kind, and The Hope and Ruin is a great venue. 

Slag and Fever Rouge both have some more shows in Brighton before Christmas, while Die Twice are currently gigging around the UK on tour – all three are definitely worth seeing live. 

Brighton Life, Die Twice, Fever Rouge, Hope and Ruin, Slag

Music Review: Slag, Fever Rouge, Die Twice

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On tour promoting their new EP ‘A Beautiful Thing’, Die Twice hit up Brighton’s very own Hope and Ruin with supporting acts Slag and Fever Rouge.
Tallulah Gray was there

After a phenomenal sets from the first two bands – and more of them later – Die Twice had a lot to prove by the time their headline slot rolled around. And they didn’t disappoint.

The first thing that strikes as the band take the stage is a palpable chemistry that can’t be ignored. The ease and charm with which guitarist Billy Twamley moves around the stage while playing his bluesy-alternative riffs with such precision is something to be studied.

Lead vocalist Olly Bayton is an absolute treat of a frontman, playing a wonderful game of cat and mouse with the audience, while the rhythm section proves to be the real strength of the band’s sound. With bassist Finn Lloyd and drummer Jake Coles in perfect harmony throughout the set. It’s hard to go wrong with such a fervent rhythmic backing and unique bass riffs that really set the band apart from the standard alternative rock/indie bands of the present moment.

The band comes across as refined, yet loose. Allowing the audience to peek behind the curtain of professionalism at four young men having fun on stage, doing what they love, with the people they love. Particular standouts include their performance of ‘The Art of Dying’ that was met with roaring applause by an audience screaming along to every word.

Not to be glossed over is how truly incredible both Slag (below) and Fever Rouge.

Slag has been the Brighton band to watch for a while now, and are doing an excellent job cementing themselves as must-sees within the Brighton music scene. Their latest single ‘Ripped’ is a refreshingly authentic and excellently produced release.Catch them while you can.

photo by Anna Polianichko @tale.pho

As for Fever Rouge (above) , the change up of their usual setlist served to create what has to be one of the best shows they’ve performed thus far. The impact they’ve made on the Brighton scene over the last year or so has been clear and effective – Fever Rouge are not going anywhere. With absolutely stellar performances of tracks ‘Weatherman’ and ‘Feed the Villain’ as well as their latest single ‘The Buzz’, their set was tight and utterly electric. As they gear up for new music releases and plenty more gigs Fever Rouge will continue to blow audiences away with their sharp sonic ability.

Andrew Clover

Andrew Clover – The Man Who Says “Yes” – Nov 2024

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OK, I very shyly confess it: there’s a neurodivergent basis to this Yes Man column. I have ADHD, so notice everything, and mild ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) so am happy to write about it. (Phew, I’ve never said those words in public before!) But you guys are from Brighton – probably the most autistic city in the land – say “Yes” if you relate to any of these symptoms.

1) You focus on details, and miss the whole. Like most autists, I’m hypersensitive – specially to noise. This morning, an old couple passed in the supermarket…

HER: Do you want soup, dear?

HIM: No. I’m not a great soup drinker – not like Arthur.

I could repeat the exact voices they used. I also pictured Arthur – a ‘great soup drinker’! – seeing him, astride his horse, mightily sipping his soup! (‘Der-der DUM der-DUM!’ Slurp!) And while all this went on, I forgot the dog food.

2) You resist societal norms – why so many ASDers are Gender Fluid, or Green (as I am) – which, then, distances you further. I avoid TV, town centres, and social media. Online, people love posting pics of themselves in places like Thailand… (I’m not thinking, “You look amazing!”: I’m thinking, “You just made four tonnes of CO2, you dick!” – but apparently that’s rude to say).

3) You have ‘mind blindness’, and struggle to work out what others are thinking. Personally, I don’t have that one – but learned to appreciate others’ mental states by examining my own. I remember being two-years-old, thinking, “I wonder if everyone else has a whole world in their heads, like I do…” Apparently it’s not normal to remember what you thought aged two. I remember the next thought, too: “But if I’m the only real person in the world – why would this be?” I concluded it must be a test – and I should pretend everyone else was real, and be polite. (This encapsulates autistic thinking).

4) You probably really like the soothing patterns of nature. (But if you can say how to recognise the 20 most common trees, you’ve learned not to).

5) You self-medicate to reduce anxiety. Many ADHDers use cannabis, but it’s not cool if, say, you’re a children’s author about to visit a school to do a quick bong hit in the car park (as I found to my cost). These days, I take Medikenit, and work out two hours a day to settle the mind. Sounds good, right? But then, on a rare trip online, I posted a pic of my naked torso. (Apparently it’s not normal, to be a 54-year-old, posting half-nude pics – I now know that!)

6) You hyper-focus, but struggle to make decisions. I often write 10,000 words a day – obsessed with how good prose flows like silk falling through fingers. But my ex-agent and ex-wife, both said the same thing: “Do you want to check the idea’s good, before you spend four months writing it?” They made a good point. Still, if I ever write that hit, I’ve a backlist of 150 works – though, yes, quite a few concern trees…

7) You avoid socialising. People say “Want to meet in the pub?”. I’m thinking “No, it’ll be TVs, people talking, it’ll be torture!” The problem for the autist, is you then have all this affection, going spare and if someone smiles, or – God forbid! – touches your arm, you fall instantly in love. (I’ve learned to resist saying this!) But if you’ve got all these symptoms, how come you’ve never known? Maybe…

8) You mask (pretend to be normal). When you look into this, you find so much research has focused on the loud boys who disrupt the class – as opposed to the quiet females, or sensitive males who are listening (very intently) to the teacher. 

I am saying all this as a public service – (if you relate to any of these, consider getting assessed; it’s amazing how freeing it is to say ‘yes’ to these ‘disorders’ – to accept them) – but for personal reasons too. I recently alienated my old friends, by trampling a few social rules, and am rebooting. If you fancy inviting me to walk in the park, you know what I’ll say. You can count on getting my complete attention. Just don’t touch me, or boast of your holiday – it won’t go well.

l mrcloverthefamoussnail@gmail.com 

Readers. The Whistler has obtained said half-nude picture of Andrew. For a small donation to The Whistler Benevolent Fund… it could be yours  

Nicholas Lezard

Nicholas Lezard – Nov 2024

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The other day I was complimented on my clothes again. A young-ish – well, much younger than me, because most people are – man in the lift at Waitrose pointed out my neckerchief and said that you didn’t see many of those around these days, and that I carried it off very well. Now, leaving aside the gross breach of protocol by talking to a stranger in a lift, and discarding the possibility that he was chatting me up (I’d never seen anyone looking less gay, and also I am too old to be fancied any more), this was simply a very nice thing to say, I decided, after I’d got over the initial shock.

The thing is, this only happens in Brighton. Not often, but about once a year. I once stopped to give a homeless man a light and he looked at my tweed jacket – which is older than I am, as it happens – and he said: “Love the look. Very retro. You carry it off.” 

Then there was the time I had just bought a new pair of glasses from Vision Express in Churchill Square. The lenses are the kind that go dark when it’s sunny, and that day was very bright. A young man about half my age said “nice glasses” as he passed me. He was halfway up the hill before the remark sank in. I remember vaguely what he looked like: dark skin, trimmed beard, black t-shirt, muscles. Despite the muscles I don’t think, again, he was gay. The thing is that the glasses were cool – think the Beatles on the back cover of Revolver, which all authorities agree was their coolest-looking period – and maybe something in my bearing suggested I knew this. I thought: this is going to happen every day I wear these. This is great.

It didn’t. But I did have someone say “wicked shoes, man” as they saw my multicoloured Converse with purple toecaps. Again, this has only happened once: but I’m grateful it has happened at all. And in case you think that this is because I am effortlessly stylish, I should say I have been mocked and even thumped because of my clothes. 

The only other places I have lived in for appreciable periods of time are London, Paris, Cambridge and Scotland, and in all of them bar Scotland I have suffered mockery and abuse. The worst time was on the Metro in Paris, when a young man unticked my grandfather’s paisley scarf from my collar and went “tee hee hee.” It was 44 years ago but I still glow red with shame and anger when I think about it.

No, the only possible conclusion is that this is Brighton for you. A town whose main principle is tolerance is actually going to be pretty welcoming towards the eccentric. I would hesitate to wear those Converse in any other city on earth, and as for the countryside, forget it. 

But thank you, Brighton. You may only compliment me once every two years, but that’s more than anywhere else has.

Cabaret, Catalyst Club, Cinecity, Cinema, David Bramwell, Horatio's Bar

David Bramwell tells the story of The Catalyst Club

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Back in the noughties TV seemed to be awash with things like Room 101, An Idiot Abroad and Grumpy Old Men, programmes that reinforced an already stablished British stereotype  – having a right good moan. Comedians like Jack Dee peddled misanthropy, as did best-selling books like Is It Just Me Or Is Everything Shit? Despite having agreed to be on the programme in the first place, Stephen Fry chose Room 101 to put in Room 101. Something we shared was a disdain for privileged celebrities on the radio and telly, bitching and complaining. (In true circular fashion, Steve Lowe who co-wrote Is It Me with Alan McArthur, later gave a talk about it at The Catalyst).

Having spent my formative years in Brighton in the early 90s going to spoken word, cabaret and open mic nights – and loving the inclusive, grass roots aspects of these  – I had an idea that an event I’d like to go to would be the antithesis of Room 101: a night where people from different walks of life shared their passions with a live audience in the form of an entertaining 15-minute talk or presentation. Topics would remain a secret, only to be revealed on the night: the best talks after all are rarely down to the subject but the speaker themselves. The only problem was – the night didn’t exist. So I decided to set it up myself. 

The Catalyst Club began at what is now the Rossi Bar on Queen’s Road, with three friends having kindly agreed to come and speak. One chose the history of the Martini, another ‘sex and classical music’ and a third told us about a road trip round the states with his band. From hereon I never looked back and have never been short of guests or new topics. 

Over the next 19 years the Catalyst Club ran at the Latest Music Bar clocking up over a thousand talks from speakers whose ages have spanned from 16 to 93 and topics that have ranged from the ridiculous (musician Ron Geesin’s collection of 10,000 adjustable spanners) to the sublime (Sally’s Kettle’s heroic account of how she rowed across the Atlantic with her mum and made it into the Guinness Books of Records). From alchemy and Hove’s secret blancmange history to Cornish Rap and the books of Patrick Hamilton, the knowledge and passions of Brightonians seem to know no bounds. 

Quentin Crisp once said that there is no such thing as a boring person, merely our need to ask more interesting questions and be better listeners. We all have our unique personal stories to tell, our singular passions to share. And you don’t have to be an academic to share your interests at the Catalyst Club or be a professional performer. 

Sometimes these qualities can be a distinct disadvantage, masking our ability to speak from the heart. It is what we do for the love of it that really matters. Of course for some folk public speaking is on par with root canal work or being trapped in a lift with Jacob Rees Mogg. It’s ok to come and just be a punter. Though it needs to be said that the Catalyst Club has nurtured a few nervous speakers over the years. One, despite saying, ‘never again’, has since travelled the world giving talks on underwater photography. 

In 2016, in collaboration with BBC Radio 4’s Archive on Four we explored the theme of public speaking, offering advice from the most practised to anxious newbies. My favourite was a speaker called Charlotte whose topic was ‘The Terrible Knitters of Dent’ and whose advice was, ‘three pints of cider hits the sweet spot.’ 

This year, Brighton’s Catalyst Club celebrated its 20th anniversary. I never imagined it would last this long. Our new home – for now at least  – is the Nightingale Room above Grand Central. Coming up in November we have magician Paul Zenon, hypnotist Danny Nemu and cinephile Linsay McCulloch. All are welcome. You never know what you might learn. 

l The next Catalyst Club is Thurs Nov 7 at the Nightingale Room Above Grand Central doors 7.30pm 

l To sign up to the Catalyst Club mailing list visit: 

catalystclub.co.uk or drbramwell.com 

A Brighton Catalyst Club and Cinecity Special: Horror on the Pier! 

Occasionally The Catalyst Club likes to go rogue and host a themed special in which we do share the topics for the night. In collaboration with Brighton’s Cinecity Festival we’re doing a horror special at the end of Brighton Pier. Our guest speakers for are cinephile Mark Keeble, who’ll be giving a tour of his favourite classic horror anthology films; Alexia Lazou on the three Kings of Horror – Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing and Vincent Price, while Horror actor and TV presenter Emily Booth (Pervirella, Cradle of Fear) will be sharing her personal journey through horror and dipping her claws into a few classic black and white horrors to discover if sometimes, less is more. 

Thursday Nov 14th 8pm-10pm £10 

Horatio’s Bar, Brighton Pier 

A beautifully-designed compendium of biographies, Bramwell leads us on a picaresque ride unearthing an artist’s pilgrimage around the world with a giant, inflatable ‘deadad’; the world’s biggest treasure hunt, an extraordinary eleven-year odyssey involving Evita’s mummified corpse, an ethnobotanist’s search for the psychedelic secrets of the Amazon and a couple who walked the Great Wall of China from opposite ends, only to spilt up when they finally met in the middle. It all ends with a At the very end is a Brighton-based graphic novella that incorporates the town’s hidden river, Aleister Crowley’s ashes and the occult talisman, the Hand of Glory. There’s also a story about Andy Warhol’s penis ending up on the moon – but I’m not sure we’ve got room for that here. 

l https://oddfellowscasino.bandcamp.com/merch/outlandish

Everything you ever wanted to know about life in Brighton (OK, and Hove)