BRAKES @ MANCHESTER ACADEMY 3

Well did the set get to go over sixty minutes? Jury's still out on that one. Here's the set-list:


All Nite Disco Party
Hi How Are You
Margaherita
Hold Me In The River
If I Should Die Tonight
Pick Up The Phone
I Can't Stand To Stand Beside You
Cheney x 2
The Beatific Visions
We Saw Jerry's Daughter
Heard About Your Band
On Your Side
Cease & Desist
Porcupine or Pineapple?
What's In It For Me?
Spring Chicken
NY Pie
The Most Fun
Ring A Ding Ding
Comma Comma Comma Full Stop
- encores -
No Return
Jackson
Huevos Rancheros

Fun as ever but felt it lacked a bit of (audience?) spark and a bit of volume. Highlight was 'What's In It For Me' which I thought was stand-out track of the night - felt all four were really getting into it, loads of energy behind it. Another highlight was the cover of Camper Van Beethoven's 'We Saw Jenny's Daughter'. Can't really go wrong with this if you stay faithful to it and they did. Matt the merchandise guy joined the band for 'The Most Fun'. They claimed 'No Return' was first time ever live? And Alex the drummer wore a Proclaimers T-shirt.

But more importantly, we came home with The Pineapple thrown by Tom the guitarist into the audience!

Need MUCH more practise with the new camera-phone.

HOLD ME IN THE RIVER
Brakes
The Beatific Visions [buy]


WE SAW JENNY'S DAUGHTER
Camper Van Beethoven
Camper Van Beethoven [buy]


Second time I've seen Absentee now. And it doesn't get better. They aim for cool-and-laid-back, playing indie-country-rock but just strike me as bland and unoriginal. Bobby Cook on the other hand showed huge promise. Only caught the last two songs but distinctly Postcard Records c.1980 in sound (jangle) and look (floppy fringed singer and checked shirts all round). Nothing on sale at merchandise stall - but must find out more. Any info gratefully received.