Milo Greene live in Brighton
- By Rick Lane -
- Jan 31, 2013
Dynamic Californian newcomers Milo Greene continued to impress on their UK tour with a sumptuous gig at Brighton’s Green Door Store.
The tiny stage may have been suitable for a solo performer, but it was probably a bit on the small-side for the dream-pop quintet, and it was no surprise to see band member Rob Arnett hit his head on a stray microphone while setting up.
But what little there was of the stage they duly owned, whether it was with a vulnerable whisper or a full-blown crescendo of noise. They were met with intrigue and warmth from the crowd that had slowly built up towards the start of their set. A couple of people were dancing along, but mostly the crowd just absorbed the night, making their own judgements on these new prospects.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of their performance was the diversity each member possessed. The benefit of uniting equally talented musicians into one group is that they were easily able to mix and match both positions and instruments at various points of the gig. With no obvious lead-singer, each was given their time under the spotlight, adding extra layers to their act.
The venue was christened the 'Disco Dungeon' by the band, who clearly had never had the delights of playing with a disco ball dangling seductively in the middle of the room. A compact underground setting made their music loud, but never overbearing.
You could hear the emotion behind their music in a way not possible on their debut album. Live, they break free from the clean-cut sound and instead capture the crowd with cut-throat passion. The act centred around their recent release, but there were also stirring covers of Sufjan Steven’s 'Chicago' and Wilco’s 'Shot in the Arm'.
Even though the stage was too small for the band to attempt a traditional encore, they finished with arguably their best track '1957', and it was the perfect opportunity for them to showcase their talent and unity. The chemistry and confidence with each other and the crowd really fit their image.
To say their portion of the night lasted just under an hour, you didn’t leave feeling short-changed, although it would have been nice if they were allowed to enjoy their encore rather than worry about the threat of a DJ storming in to set up his equipment.
Earlier, support came in the form of Brighton teen rockers The One Hundredths, and the quirky Polly Scattergood. Neither really set the stage alight, but both were playing to a room of barely 30 people. The One Hundredths’ three guitarists played at a deafening level making lyrics seemingly irrelevant to the lead singer. Polly Scattergood was better, singing in a Diana Vickers style twang while using what looked like scientific equipment to make strange electronic waves. However both were swiftly forgotten once Milo Greene took to the stage.
They seemed genuinely humble and no sooner had they begun, they were setting off to find their Travelodge. They are a band bubbling with potential to become a household name. Hopefully they will receive more widespread recognition when they return across the shores to America.
By Rick Lane. Tweets at @warwicklane
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