Brakes, Pavilion Theatre, Brighton

5:03pm Monday 11th December 2006

Brakes seems an entirely inappropriate name for a band which is tearing up the fast lane.

Their second album, The Beatific Visions, is an Album of the Year contender while the pop-punk brilliance of current single Hold Me In The River is such a top tune even Radio 1 can't ignore it.

If the band were from a place like Glasgow or Liverpool there would be a wild and noisy welcome for this homecoming gig but Brakes are from Brighton.

Maybe it's the lack of people born and bred in the city, maybe nearly everyone's a fellow muso and wishes they were on stage instead. Maybe we're all just moody gits.

Whatever the reason, Brakes only got a warm hug when they deserved a big, wet, slobbery snog.

The band are the embodiment of the saying "beggars borrow while geniuses steal".

While their starting point is off-kilter country rock, riffs and rhythms are plundered merrily from a multitude of bands spanning Pixies to Status Quo even.

Eamon "once of British Sea Power" Hamilton, Alex and Tom "Electric Soft Parade" White and Marc "Tenderfoot" Beatty are such talented musicians they create a cohesive sound from all these different styles.

These abilities are combined with witty, insightful lyrics and a quirky sense of humour.

Porcupine or Pineapple is a hilariously absurd anti-war anthem, while Spring Chicken is a brilliantly bizarre attempt to repopularise the twist.

Hopefully, next time their home crowd will join in the fun.