Indie post punk veterans The Monochrome Set returned to Brighton and did not disappoint the capacity crowd at the intimate Hope and Ruin.

Their set spanned their 37 year career and early classics such as the uplifting alt pop sound of Alphaville, Jet Set Junta and the frankly bizarre Eine Symphonie des Grauens was well received by the mostly mature audience.

The line up tonight consisted of original members- sensibly dressed Bid on vocals and guitar with Andy Warren on bass guitar. They were joined by Steve Brumell on drums- sporting a fez and sunglasses and John Moran on keyboards wearing a long dressing gown and slippers, eccentric by comparison. 

Bid’s voice sounded the same as ever, deep and rich, but his performance was somewhat hampered by his reliance of his song lyrics on a music stand in front of him. At times it seemed as if he was going through the motions and Andy actually looked bored. As the gig neared its conclusion Bid did warm up. Dedicating the song The Mating Game to Her Majesty, describing her as-  ‘still a stunner’.

The encore of He’s Frank was introduced as the song that rescued Iggy Pop from being a life- long  banker, or something like that.