Art Brut, London 229

Eddie Argos

September 12th 2009

Art Brut are like that special kind of old friend. You might not see them for ages, but the second you meet up with them again you get on like a house on fire. All the new stories come out and sit nicely with tales of yore, and you know you’re guaranteed a great time.

Tonight, Art Brut are headling the final night of the four-day Fistful of Fandango festival, which showcases some of the best bands who’ve played for Fandango in North London. They’ve been touring Europe and America for what seems like months and kick off their set with a rendition of ‘Roadrunner’ by frontman Eddie Argos’ favourites, Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers. “I don’t know what’s more surprising”, says Argos, “that we’ve only just started playing Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers songs or that I don’t know the words.”

New Art Brut listeners find enjoyment in Argos’ witty, story-telling lyrics and fans relish in a solid set packed with favourites. ‘Rusted Guns of Milan’ and ‘Good Weekend’ get an early showing and Argos descends into ranting, as he is wont to do, at the end of ‘Formed a Band’; he tells the audience not to play The Beatles Rock Band as “it’s not creative” and orders us to go and form bands with our friends when we get home. Sporting a new short hairdo, Argos is on form tonight and the rest of Art Brut are incredibly tight, creating the perfect base for the speak-sing vocals. The endings of songs are stretched out while Argos indulges in conversation and guitarist Jasper Future never misses the delayed final rock star chords when the songs are eventually brought to a close.

2007 single ‘Direct Hit’, with its awkward indie disco cry of “move around like your shoes don’t fit” fits well with 2009′s ‘Alcoholics Unanimous’, while the evergreen ‘Modern Art’ segues seemlessly into AC/DC’s ‘For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)’.

While Art Brut might always be one of those “Marmite bands”, fans of good old-fashioned rock ‘n’ roll and a clever sense of humour will appreciate what they do. Perfect Saturday night entertainment and the over-arching reminder that music should be fun, fun, fun. As Argos sings in ‘DC Comics and Chocolate Milkshake’, “some things will always be great”.

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