The Green Door Store is a small but characterful venue in Brighton, and I have seen some interesting bands play in its industrial surrounds over the years. The main band I was here to see tonight were noobs to the UK touring circuit: Thorns.
Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, I was surprised to see that they were opening proceedings. I assume they put together a collection of last-minute dates in smaller venues as part of an awareness campaign for the late August release of their Ready to Strike EP. Taking in a set at 2000trees Festival certainly won’t hurt their efforts in this either.
Thorns play old-school thrash with a healthy injection of NWOBHM influences coming through here and there, with the bassist sporting a nice Tank tee to nail it home. Their promo blurb mentions Nuclear Assault and early Metallica, and it’s the latter which mainly dominated my first impressions. Check out the riff-filled enthusiasm and unbridled sense of fun of last year’s “60 Cycle Hum” for a perfect introduction to their wild ride.
With their hurtling drums and serrated riffs, I really enjoyed their performance, although it was far too short; apparently, they ended up playing the three or four songs on offer faster than usual too. I hope to catch them for a longer drink soon. New single “Bad Business” can be found online now and bodes well for the future of this genre as a whole.
I am not really sure what Smug LLC is trying to achieve. Whilst I admire the bravery of putting yourself on stage on your tod—it’s just one guy talking, rapping, and singing over a backing track on his laptop—this just didn’t do it for me in a live situation. The audience clapped politely after each track, but I took the opportunity to grab an extra pint and watch from further out.
Don’t fancy Patreon? Buy us a one-off beverage!
Bruise Control is a brilliant, mostly Manchester-based punk band with a great name. Coming straight out of the traps with fists flying, they energised the crowd with their fun and fast-paced punky aggression. Sounding like a Hives and Ramones mash-up sucker-punching Soft Play on speed, their passion and energy were very infectious.
With songs like the titular “Bruise Control”, “HMRC”, “Taxman”, and “Left Behind”, their brash and brutal rants are right up my street. Singer Jim Taylor was sporting an impressive mullet and moustache, and yes, I am aware that the bassist was wearing a floaty summer dress—I expect it kept them very cool given the recent sticky conditions. They also had some quality merch on sale—1980s football-style shorts, anyone? I was very tempted but settled for their new CD, Useless For Something, instead. I will certainly be keeping a keen eye on future announcements from these musical reprobates.
The Dirty Nil were the most polished of this evening’s acts, as you would expect from a group with a fair few more years of experience and releases under their belts. They still thrash out the riffs and bash out the beats when the mood takes them, but this Canadian threesome have a broad palette of styles and a generally more accomplished air about them.
Luke, Kyle, and Antony were clearly enjoying themselves and the good response they were getting for their entertaining rock sounds, with frontman Luke gurning and smiling throughout their set in equal measure. Their style varies from hard rock to punk and even a bit of alt-balladry thrown into the mix, which is evident on their new album, The Lash.
“Rock ‘N’ Roll Band” was a highlight track, including lyrics about the reality of playing in a band that will strike a knowing chord with other musicians or people in the biz. Speaking of which, it really was a complete coincidence that I was wearing a Johnny Truant t-shirt from about twenty odd years ago; it transpires that the singer of Johnny Truant is now managing The Dirty Nil! Well, who would have thunk it?!
