Old Time Relijun & Charlottefield (Brighton)

Charlottefield are rapidly becoming one of the best bands in Brighton, and their blend of post-hardcore and distorted indie-rock is sure to see them making waves across this fair country's indie-rock bastions, but tonight’s real delight is the headliners.

Oregon's Old Time Relijun surely are one of the finest and most depraved bands on the planet right now, with their uncompromising mix of Captain Beefheart, no-wave and plain old rock’n’roll nastiness. But before I get ahead of myself, let me tell you a bit more about the Charlottefield live experience – a great drummer who plays impossible rhythms whilst the band create some scrawl reminiscent of the noisier parts of the likes of Jesus Lizard, I’m Being Good, Unsane and Fugazi.

If that sounds too good to be true, then believe me, they are really that good and I was on the verge of throwing the towel in after they left the stage at the relatively early time of 9.45, but thought that it was worth hanging around to catch what else was left and was it worth it.

Starting with one of their apparently weaker songs, it took about five minutes before I was a convert to the pseudo-religious rantings of Old Time Relijion. It wasn't really until the second song, basically sounding like the amazing James Chance & The Contortions, that I began to understand where they were coming from and when, about 45 minutes later, they ended the crowd were by this point baying for more. A truly great re-interpretation of what the great Captain Beefheart would have sounded like if he had grown up as part of our generation, they mix in all the elements of garage rock, like the Oblivions and Pussy Galore, the dancability of no-wave whilst still incorporating the demented saxophone noise of Beefheart himself. Truly one of the best and most unexpected nights of the year – if you get the chance go see OTR on this tour, just go!

Prince Albert, Brighton, 22nd April 2008.

Written by Brad Middleton.