ART BRUT
Amersham Arms, New Cross, SE14
Saturday 26th January, 10:30pm

I have been in love with Art Brut since the very first time I heard ‘Formed A Band’. Amongst the midst of bands stealing everything they could from the early 1980s/their parents’ incomes to buy nice shoes, there were these cheeky buggers from London whose only aim in life was to be the greatest band in the world and to be loved by everyone. Especially Andi Peters. In the five years since the fourteen year old me had his head blown in the midst of an uncaring sea of people who still thought Slipknot were musically viable (that’s Lincolnshire for you) they’ve had a seemingly topsy-turvy existance: they haven’t set the UK completely alight but have garnered fanbases across the world and could accurately be described as one of the most adored bands to come out of all this indie music business.

Indeed, when they played here in New Cross last weekend it was one of the most fervent audiences I’ve been a part of, and certainly the sweatiest. The performance, apart from nearly breaking my phone and making me grin like a fool, confirmed what I also love about Art Brut and in particular Eddie Argos is that they’re always wanting their fans to make something of themselves. Anything. Just be sodding creative. During ‘Bad Weekend’ he flung into the crowd and told them just that. I wonder if all this writing lark counts?

Before the gig, I sat down with Eddie and Ian and had a lovely chat with them and I asked him whether any fans had taken his advice and run with it and it seemed like they were chuffed to bits that people have, or at least made blogs with their lyrics as names. I’ve posted the audio interview below; I should really wait until my show on Sunday but it’s fun in its unedited state, mainly because I sound a bit silly.

The band are on tour throughout the UK for the next month.

Art Brut interviewed by ISTRT at the Amersham Arms (zipped m4a, 14.25MB) »
Art Brut “Bad Weekend” Live at Eurockennes Festival, 2006. (mp3, 4.9MB)

roman david