Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly (Brighton)

Despite her beautiful lilting vocals, support act Emmy The Great's shy demeanour failed to gain the crowd's full attention and one punter even harshly edited the stage times' poster to rename her Emmy The "Quite Dull". Maybe she didn't have the right haircut.

Nevertheless, by the time Sam Duckworth and his band took to the stage, like a reincarnation of Madness with their sharp suits, horns and even a pork pie hat, their mix of samples and live instruments got some stilted dancing going, with the audience's biggest reaction saved for 'War Of The Worlds'.

The unlikely front man broke a few hearts, with the young crowd calling out expressing their undying love for him. His awkwardness was endearing: 'you're hot too, or I apologise for lying to everyone else'.

The diehard fans that caused this gig to sell out so quickly seemed to be enjoying themselves somewhat self-consciously, with the energy seen onstage only reflected in a select few until the singles came out. But as a newcomer to this particular brand of preachy acoustic rock, towards the end of the lacklustre set I was becoming bored of being told that I was 'not my job' and it was a case of Get Coat. Wear Coat. Leave.

Komedia, Brighton, 12th February 2008.

Written by Cat Goodman.