Reviewed on 28th January 2010.

Vivian Girls

Live at Brudenell Social Club on Friday, 22nd January 2010

The first support I catch tonight is Manchester four piece; Get Serious. They're straight forward prickly guitar pop punk. Their no frills, without airs approach makes for a fun and highly accessible set which seems to instil some kind energy in the crowd. Not the most accomplished players, but this hasn't stopped them doing the job.

Blood Oranges continue in a similarly basic, but endearing vein. Rudimentary, spacey twee pop is their territory; in perfect harmony with tonight's main attraction. A bit like a fresh faced re-incarnation of the Pastels, Blood Oranges have their own take on this current affixation with 80's indie pop. Veering away from the tedium of the more dawdling 'shoegaze' pastiche in some of the recent crop, the band to keep up the pace with some neat, rattle along tunes. Heartfelt vocals are tossed back and forward between male and female members to a dainty effect. They look to be still finding their feet, but this was a great outing. Let's just hope the crowd sat up and took notice.

Vivian Girls appear from the back of the Brudenell stage, through the little doorway that all acts must endure as a kind of awkward 'tonight Matthew', stars in their eyes moment. The three of them have become a bit more famous since I last saw them upstairs at the Library for Stag and Dagger festival which was also a lively throng of hipsters and cool kids. Now on their second album of 'The Wipers cover 60s girl groups' round about sound, Vivian Girls aren't interested in chit chat and would rather get on with their burgeoning repertoire.

The reverberating, siren numbers plough into each other with typical vanguard punk pace, that is just a little quicker than on the record. Bassist Kickball Katy teeters around in a joyful, head in the clouds sort of dance with bass protruding awkwardly while lead vocalist and guitarist, Cassie Ramone is more occupied with her duties behind the mic stand to offer any movement. The audience are a mixed bag too; a half-hearted pocket of dancing though is enough for the band to commend the Brudenell on being the only audience they've not had to coax into having fun yet.

The set is good long mix of material from both albums. 'Can't get over you' and the mechanical soul of 'Wild Eyes' sound great churned out with the girl's dedicated crude delivery. My personal favourite from the latest album, 'Tension' gets a good reception. It's a wonderful tantrum of a song which lollops between sweet harmony and aggressive chorus. Drummer Ali Koehler reigns in the noise with her primitive heartbeat garage thudding and splattering cymbals. Mid set they down tools for an acapella rendition of the The Chantels 'He's Gone', a standard for other girl groups as well. This went down a storm, and understandably so. The choice highlighting that good music doesn't necessarily have to be new music. While Vivian Girls might be exponents of the retro factor, they've certainly managed to invigorate a renewed interest in some incendiary sounds that never grow tired. They're a band sat at the top of 50 years of great music.