THE WHIP/ THE GOOD NATURED
The Green Door Store, Brighton. 27/2/11 This is my first proper gig in Brighton. Im on my own because the only reliable plus-one is a hundred or so miles away. I arm myself with a pint of cider, step tentatively through a little curtain into the band room carved out of an old warehouse. Funnily enough, what Im greeted with is a complete replica of any backroom in my hometown of Cambridge. The crowd are stood silently goading each other to move while a lone older gentleman bops rather unrhythmically to my right, a faint dank smell in the air. The Good Natured are on already and Sarah McIntosh and her big hair soon steal my attention away from the fairly maudlin audience, complementing the over-emphasised English accent, synths and drum machines which dominate the trios popnoir sound, a bit like La Rouxs bratty siblings. A glitterball hangs above, a thick layer of dust noticeable. It doesnt stop the bands posing and posturing, however; Sarahs brother, Hamish, is on bass and a man simply known as George on drums. Recently signed to Parlophone (yet I find out later theyve been around since 2008), The Good Natured are electropop at a promising stage, born to emerge from indie obscurity, however briefly. What I like most is their interactivity. During Dead on the dance floor McIntosh gets into the throng, a marionette jerking in and out of onlookers faces, before beating an explosion of glitter out of a well-worn drum she happens to have to hand. During Skeleton, taken from the E.P of the same name released last summer, the woah oh chorus making me gloriously giddy as I drink my cider too quickly amongst the weird mix of chavs and indie kids that are quickly gathering and politely clapping. Theres a tall man at the front as usual. I am disgruntled that the band didnt get a better reception.
Anna C http://www.thegoodnatured.co.uk/ |