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The King Blues, Anti-Flag

Brighton Concorde 2

Tuesday 26th February 2008 - 7:30PM

Reviewed by AmyR | 03/03/2008 - 9:42PM

The King Blues were back to Brighton tonight to support American punk band Anti-Flag, but as usual they took the opportunity to show the people in this packed out venue what they call a good time. After spray painting the words 'The King ****in' Blues' onto a large white sheet at the front of the stage, they picked up their variety of instruments and begun playing an introduction. The crowd clapped, cheered and danced to this display, and anyone who is familiar with their live sets will be aware that these actions are traditions of this band. They worked their way through a brilliantly passionate set, achieving a massive '**** you' to the BNP (another live trait) and encouraging the 'people of Brighton' to take a stand against what they view as a corrupt government.

It was more than a few drinks that brought the crowd together and got everybody moving. Playing their new single 'Mr. Music Man' to an uproar of applause, The King Blues seem to hold the key to being a brilliant band, for both their performance and their music. For their last song front man Itch encouraged the crowd to climb onto the stage and help them sing 'Taking Over' into the spare microphone. The response to this was huge, bodies piled onto the stage until the band could no longer been seen for the people chanting, arms in the air until they were left breathless, both literally and with undeniable admiration.

With the crowd left buzzing from the stunning, politically influenced set of The King Blues, Anti-Flag took to the stage with graceful ease. Making a small, unnecessary introduction through thick American accents, they began with a feisty step into the first song. The crowd response was to throw their limbs around in no specific direction and lacking any real sense of timing; in doing so this was their way of communicating that they were having a good time. Trying out a variety of new songs, striking each chord with a natural-born passion for what they do.

They took time out between songs, perhaps to catch their breath, or to allow the audience to catch theirs. All the while they joked with each other and the audience, sharing anecdotes and confessions, yet barely feeling the need to introduce the majority of their songs. Not touching any songs from the new EP, instead opting to play a lot from their last album such as, 'I'd Tell You But...', 'War Sucks... Let's Party' and many more. The crowd were not ready to quit when Anti-Flag left the stage, and the venue was filled with the shouts of 'You gotta die, gotta die, gotta die for your government, die for your country that's ****.' To which, eventually the bassist walked on playing the introductory bass line as the crowd continued to chant until vocalist Jesse joined in. After this encore song, they burst into 'The Press Corpse' without a moment for breath and as the last note rung out our ears were left wondering what on earth just happened.

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