Sunday 13/03/05 Art Brut, Neils Children @ The Social, Nottingham

If Franz Ferdinand are the radio-friendly Tate Britain of Art-rock, Art Brut and Neils Children are the back-street gallery.  Intriguing, bursting with character, and quite capable of having something very special indeed. 

 

Neils Children find themselves in Nottingham tonight in a less than ideal situation.  Founder members of the London guitar-band onslaught that has propelled bands like Bloc Party and The Others into the spotlight, they urge the audience to buy new single ‘Always the Same/Stupid Band’, or “we’re ****ed“, their caustic post punk agitation doesn’t appear to be shifting units. 

 

Mainstream they ain’t.  Coming onstage tonight, they look like the kids who didn’t fit in.  Drummer Brandon Jacobs has the kind of hair that would make Robert Smith wish he had just left it that little bit longer, while Front man John Linger looks like he hasn’t seen the sun in years.  Their set, the last with Art Brut on the current tour, is a rallying cry to the disaffected mainstream society.  Highlight ’I Hate Models’, verges on anarchic.  As the crowd start to po-go, Linger delivers a Johnny Rotten, sneer "Blind worship is the only thing you’ll ever accept", its not easy listening, but it was never going to be.

 

If Neils Children arrive by way of the kind of biting punk that Siouxsie and the Banshees would be proud of, Art Brut are riding high on the Britpop revival.  Front man Eddie Argos struts around the stage, complete with sharp suit and Jarvis Cocker-esque floppy fringe.  Flanked on either side by one mod and one punk guitarist, a drummer that wears a flat cap and stands for most of the gig and a barely visible girl bassist, they are an odd bunch.  Opener ‘Bang, Bang Rock and Roll’ sets the tone: a three minute shout-along that turns the front of the crowd into a jumping throng, hanging on Argos’ every word. 

 

During first single ‘Formed a Band’ chaos ensues: Argos Shouts "Formed a band! We formed a band! Look at us! We formed a band!’", his lyrics go from the virtues of playing on TV "sometimes its hard to stop, when you heart is set on Top of the Pops’" to wanting to "write a tune as universal as happy birthday".  But it’s the charisma that pulls him through. At one point, Gigwise turns around to find ourselves near the back of the crowd, ready to be hoisted back on stage by a small army of devotees, lyrics are changed from "me" to "us" and the security look decidedly anxious.

 

Tonight is proof that the hype machine doesn’t always let you down.  Art Brut have the songs, style and swagger to pull it off.  Who knows, with a bit of luck, that trip to the BBC might not be that far away.